Thread by @SenDuckworth

A quick guide to the Trump administration’s ever-changing, contradictory and false excuses/outright lies for ripping innocent children away from their parents and then holding them hostage:

Excuse 1: “The Democrats have to change their law.” Even if it were true that such a law existed (it isn't & it doesn't) or that Dems wrote it (also a lie), Trump’s party still controls both chambers in Congress—and therefore controls what votes take place

Excuse 2: “#CHANGETHELAWS” We want to, but even if we do it doesn’t excuse the immoral & inhumane way the Trump administration is treating kids. If Congress acts today, this administration will still be responsible for the inexcusable child abuse that’s taken place in recent wks

Excuse 3: “We do not have a policy of separating families at the border.” If only wishing made it so, then they wouldn't need excuses 1 or 2? 3 days before @SecNielsen lied about this, AG Sessions admitted this policy exists in a speech: bit.ly/2JIPDfO

Excuse 4: “If you are seeking asylum, go to a port of entry. You do not need to break the law of the United States to seek asylum.” Not only cruel & heartless, it's also not an option for many asylum-seekers who are being turned away from ports of entry: n.pr/2MGquEk

Excuse 4.1, defending turning away asylum-seekers: "We are not turning them away. We are saying...we do not have the resources at this particular moment in time." THEN MAYBE STOP WASTING RESOURCES TEARING FAMILIES APART AND IMPRISONING TERRIFIED CHILDREN!

Excuse 5: “You have to take the children away,” – Trump himself. Um… No. Just no.

Excuse 6: “It would be a tough deterrent.” Someone might want to tell @SecNielsen that AG Sessions and WH Chief of Staff Kelly believe this, because she said it wasn’t yesterday. This is probably the most accurate, though inhumane, excuse I’ve heard

Pay attention when you hear this, because it’s the Trump administration admitting that the reason they’re doing this is because they want to send a message. And if they have to commit child abuse on several thousand innocent souls to send that message, they’re ok with that

Facts are important. Reality is reality. The reality is that the Trump administration is choosing to rip children & infants away from their parents and then holding them hostage. They may think it's a political winner or a game, but they're playing with innocent children's lives

That’s the reality. There’s only one person who can end this horror with a single call, and that’s Donald Trump. He can blame whoever he wants, but the fact that he won’t make that call should tell you all you need to know about his true priorities

This administration’s actions are distressing and awful, but the world is watching how we, as a people, respond to the thousands of terrified, innocent children wondering if they’ll ever see their parents again. We can’t give up.