Biden and Trump both face tough questions over their immigration records


President Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden have both faced criticism over their respective immigration records, a topic that came to the fore at the presidential debate on Thursday night.
Trump specifically was asked what the United States is doing to find the parents of over 500 migrant children who were separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border and haven't been reunited. "Children are brought here by coyotes and lots of bad people," Trump claimed, adding vaguely that "we're trying very hard" to reunite the families.
"Coyotes didn't bring them over, their parents were with them," Biden said in response. "They were separated from their parents. And it makes us the laughing stock and it violates every notion of who we are as a nation."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Who built the cages, Joe? Talk about who built the cages," Trump said.
"Let's talk about what happened," Biden went on. "Parents — their kids were ripped from their arms, and separated. And now they cannot find over 500 sets of those parents. And those kids are alone. Nowhere to go, nowhere to go. It's criminal. It's criminal.”
"They are so well taken care of," Trump said in defense. "They’re in facilities that are so clean."
Biden also faced pressure over the Obama administration's immigration policies, under which there were record deportations. "We made a mistake," Biden said of that 2013 effort. "We took too long to get it right."
He noted that this time around, there would be a major difference: "I'll be president United States, not vice president, United States.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 29, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - my way or Norway, running orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 tactically sound cartoons about the leaked Signal chat
Cartoons Artists take on the clown signal, baby steps, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Roast lamb shoulder with ginger and fresh turmeric recipe
The Week Recommends Succulent and tender and falls off the bone with ease
By The Week UK Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Israel detains director after West Bank settler clash
speed read The director of Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land' was arrested and beaten
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Turkey arrests Istanbul mayor, a top Erdogan rival
Speed Read Protests erupted in Turkey after authorities detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel strikes Gaza, breaking ceasefire
Speed Read 326 Palestinians were killed in the first major attack since Netanyahu's government signed a ceasefire agreement with Hamas
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Houthis vow retaliation amid US airstrikes
Speed Read Trump promises the US will use 'overwhelming lethal force' against the Houthis until they stop attacking Red Sea ships
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Pakistan train hostage standoff ends in bloodshed
Speed Read Pakistan's military stormed a train hijacked by separatist militants, killing 33 attackers and rescuing hundreds of hostages
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published