The state House approved a resolution Friday condemning the Trump administration’s recently reversed policy of separating members of immigrant families who cross the border seeking asylum.
The resolution also expressed “a profound hope that the family separation policy will not be reinstated,” and that federal authorities would reunite separated families “immediately.”
The measure had 90 cosponsors. The final tally was 106 in favor and 17 against, with the dissenting votes all coming from Republicans. There was no floor debate before the vote, but some members rose to explain their votes afterward. The longest statement in opposition came from Rep. Gary Viens (R-Newport), a retired U.S. Border Patrol agent.
“Any time parents and children come to the United States illegally, they are processed,” he said. “They have two choices: Family members can admit they crossed the border illegally and return home, or face detention and prosecution.”
Viens continued, “It’s terrible what’s going on, but it was the parents’ decision that led to the separation, not the government’s.”
The 16 other no votes came from Reps. Lynn Batchelor (R-Derby Line), Steve Beyor (R-Highgate Springs), Patrick Brennan (R-Colchester), Thomas Burditt (R-West Rutland), Bob Frenier (R-Chelsea), Doug Gage (R-Rutland City), Marianna Gamache (R-Swanton), Rodney Graham (R-Williamstown), Bob Helm (R-Fair Haven), Mark Higley (R-Lowell), Marcia Martel (R-Waterford), Constance Quimby (R-Concord), Carl Rosenquist (R-St. Albans), Brian Savage (R-Swanton), Brian Smith (R-Derby) and Warren Van Wyck (R-Ferrisburgh).
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.Of course they oppose it. They want open borders. They don’t care about our country. Isn’t it obvious? I want to gag when I see a Democrat waving a flag as if they really love this country. They don’t. Of course, they didn’t come up with this resolution when separating ILLEGALS was on Obama’s watch. Now let’s see how these fools tap dance around separating AMERICAN families when Mommy and Daddy go to jail. What then, idiots?
Does this mean that the state of Vermont’s correction dept. will no longer separate individuals who are incarcerated in the state? How will they deal with all those kids?
I don’t think the families should be separated but I don’t think the Vermont house will have much say in dictator trumps decision but the more States that show him they do not approve of his actions the better it is. I noticed that the republicans from the smaller areas support trump, how brainwashed are they from him? I don’t think the new order that trump signed did much good as it looks like they are still being separated and not trying very hard to get them back together!! He is an egotistical asshole!
Alpha1six and Peter Morgan,, there’s this easy thing called ‘teh Google’. You can type in search terms called ‘keywords’ and it will magically come up with the rules for what happens to American kids when their American parents go to jail. Try it. It’s neat and accurate. Pretty sure none of the rules say anything along the lines of:
‘whisked away to an undisclosed location 10 states away’;
‘we’ll tell you where your kid is once we figure out what we did with him’;
‘toddlers? I have no idea what toddler you’re talking about?’;
‘no, you can’t enter this location to take pictures of the conditions we’re holding the girls in. Besides, who says we’re holding girls?’
Guess people don’t do any research or remember anything.. !! Because if they did they would know it was Billy boy Clinton wrote and signed the order about taking the kids away from their parents (illegals) Bush did nothing about it, he took the kids away, Obama did nothing about changing the law, he took the kids away. The pictures that are plastered all over the news and even our local news were taken when obama was in office You’re all yelling and damning Pres Trump for following the law but where were you all when it was happening with the last 3 presidents. Never heard any yelling when it was happening then.. Matter of fact where is your outrages about the children right here in Vermont when the kids are rip away from their parents. ??
Hey, A TROUT: American kids aren’t ILLEGAL. Got it? What is it about the word ‘Illegal’ that you can’t understand? They shouldn’t be here in the first place. oh, and where was your hyperventilating and screaming when it happened on Obama’s watch? Pretty selective in your outrage, fella! Something about using your brain, NOT Google.
Why is our legislature wasting time on this stupidity in the first place? It’s not like it means anything and its not like the world is waiting with baited breath to see what Vermont has to say. Like nobody cares what Vermont thinks.
Chalk Mr. Morgan and Ms. Boutin up as ones who supports the atrociousness and inhuman treatment of children because they are ‘illegal.’
Some of the pictures are from 2016 yes. But when Peter Welch went to the detainee centers he verified that children were in cages and it was cold in there. The government is only releasing the old images
So why weren’t you all appalled and ready to throw the President out when Obama was in office?
It is only now that it is a problem? Because you do not like the new president?
Guess it depends on what your political agenda is on whether you care about separating kids from parents as they try to enter the country illegally.
Mr. Morgan, I am totally against illegal immigration.
But you think that because these children were brought to this country illegally (and in some instances maybe legally — by parents legitimately seeking asylum from abuse or terror) means we get to be cruel to them? It is perfectly ok to treat children inhumanely because we don’t approve of what their parents did?
No, it is not. Period.
Now Vermont has joined with 16 other states in suing the Trump administration for the policy of separation of children form illegal adults crashing the boarder. LOL.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EDVzhws9Qb0
Where was Vermont when Bernie was illegally bypassed by a corrupt criminal DNC, while all the campaign contributions were diverted to Killary? Deep state stooges, all. Vermont’s hypocrisy is becoming impossible to hide. How can the people of Vermont tolerate this from the Democrats in office?? They are all guilty of the lowest, most loathsome behavior. MAGA. Vote them all out of office 2018. Make Vermont Great Again. MVGA.
@ A.Trout chalk one up for supporting abortions.. that’s ripping children from their mothers. Chalk another one up for A Trout for not knowing that Clinton signed into law that children be taken from their mothers who came here illegally, Bush did it and so did obama. did they do anything about it…NOPE. The pictures that have been plastered all over the news were pictures from the obama administration in 2014… why didn’t you yell about that??? oh I get it because it’s Pres Trump right..?? What about the children here in Vt who are ripped from their parents ..
@ timothy price.. first off Sanders wasn’t illegally bypassed by a corrupt criminal DNC.. he was paid off !!!! Yes the Democrats are crooked, but so is Sanders..He didn’t have to run as a democrat but he choose to. he didn’t have to take the millions from the clintons and soros but he did because he’s greedy …He got what he deserved. He’s just as crooked as the Clintons. Also his wife too..