INTERVIEW – DEVIN O’MALLEY – Spokesperson, Department of Justice

Trump Administration to Step Up Prosecution of Border-Crossing Parents. US doubling down on strategy that separates families to curb border crossings. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday is reportedly set to announce that the administration will increase its prosecution of parents crossing the U.S. border illegally, in the hope it will convince people to avoid making the trek for fear they will be separated from their children. “The Attorney General directed the U.S. Attorney’s offices to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for all offenses referred for prosecution,” a HLISTENomeland Security official told The Wall Street Journal.  The Los Angeles Times was the first to report the planned announcement. Sessions and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting Director Thomas Homan will reportedly be making the announcement in San Diego on Monday. The new policy is aimed mostly at those from Central American nations who arrive at the border seeking political asylum with their children.  Adults will still be able to apply for asylum under the new policy, but they could be detained while their cases are reviewed. Children will be handled as if they came to the U.S. without an adult. By prosecuting adults and then treating their children as unaccompanied minors at the border, families would be separated as children are placed in shelters or with family while their cases for asylum are considered.