Trump continues to lie about Democrats being responsible for breaking up families at the border. They're not. He is.

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

published 15 June 2018

President Trump tweeted an unmistakable lie Friday afternoon in an attempt to shuck responsibility for his administration's new heavily criticized "zero tolerance" policy that involves separating children from their parents when families are apprehended for illegally entering the U.S. "The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda," tweeted Trump, although the policy is entirely his own and there is no such law mandating separation.

Trump has repeatedly tried to pass off the policy, announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in May, as being a "horrible law" written by the Democrats. In fact, it was Sessions who publicly announced, "If you don't want your child separated, then don't bring them across the border illegally." While there is no formal law requiring children to be separated from their parents, the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy is meant to deter families who are considering illegal entry into the United States.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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