
Sen. Lindsay Graham told CNN's Kate Bolduan that President Trump could stop the Department of Homeland Security from separating young, undocumented children from their parents when families are detained for illegally crossing the southern border.
"President Trump could stop this policy with a phone call," Graham said. "I'll go tell him: If you don't like families being separated, you can tell DHS, 'Stop doing it.'"
Earlier today, President Trump falsely blamed Democrats for the thousands of migrant children who have been separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border. His administration's zero-tolerance policy to refer anyone caught crossing the border illegally for federal prosecution has led to a notable uptick in the number of children taken from their parents since the change was announced in May.
However, Graham added that the separation policy discourages illegal immigration.
"I'm sure that people are going to be less likely to bring their kids to America if they get separated than if they lived together and get released into the country. I'm real sure about that," Graham said.