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Stephen Colbert Takes to Task the Inhumane Act of Ripping Migrant Children Away From Parents

June 15, 2018

In 2018, to any and all observers, America is swiftly becoming very different than the sort of country we ideally want it to be. You know, one that respects human beings. Jeff Sessions, under the Donald Trump administration, has made it official government policy to separate children from parents at the border in order to deter immigration as part of its continued inhumane treatment of anyone who tries to come to this country, and the continued attempts to dehumanize. The Guardian quoted an official who said:

“Part of the reason for the proposal is to deter mothers from migrating to the United States with their children.”

Ripping kids away from parents, telling the parents they were going to bath the children only to make sure they would never see them again, is unspeakably cruel. Stephen Colbert, for this Father’s Day, took a tonal shift when he discussed Jeff Sessions’ support of his inhumane ruling.

Colbert begins the segment saying that, while normally he covers the most popular news stories of the day, this is one that he needs to bring more attention to, describing the act of separating children from their parents, often permanently, and saying, “if that sounds evil, good news, your ears are working”. Colbert continues to call this one of the cruelest thing imaginable, and zeroes in on Jeff Sessions’ use of the Bible to defend his actions.

Sessions quoted the Book of Romans, specifically Romans 13, which states:

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

It’s a quote that has been used to try to use the bible to justify inhumane actions in the name of following the law and has been pulled forth during defenses of American slavery and Nazi Germany. Forget though for a second that well… humans make the law, and not the Bible, so saying God approves of them just because they’re in power is bananas. And, ignore the fact that a lot of inhumanity has been done in the name of the Bible. Colbert responds, “don’t bring God into this”, and shows that if you just read a little further in Romans, you get the following.

“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor. There fore love is the fulfillment of the law.” – The Bible, Romans 13:10

So, there you go. The Bible definitely does not want you to destroy the lives of immigrants because your racist little toad self-decided for it. It wants you to welcome these people.

The Donald Trump administration is currently erecting tent cities in military cities and abandoned Walmarts to house these children. One reporter visited one, and the results were bleak, with the facility resembling a prison in everything except name.

I’m a part of the first group of journalists to go into the shelter for detained child migrants in Brownsville Texas since the zero tolerance separation policy was announced. 1000+ boys here.

Going in right now.

More tonight w @chrislhayes on @allinwithchris @MSNBC. #inners pic.twitter.com/NeLlaDdSKv

— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) June 13, 2018

Just finished tour, don’t even know where to start.

One of the first things you notice when you walk into the shelter — no joke — a mural of Trump with the quote “sometimes losing a battle you find a new way to win the war.”

Presidential murals everywhere. But that one is 1st.

— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) June 13, 2018

Officials here said they’ve never had an MS-13 member here, ever.

— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) June 13, 2018

Kids here get only two hours a day to be outside in fresh air.

One hour of structured time.

One hour of free time.

The rest of the day is spent inside a former Wal Mart.

— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) June 13, 2018

This mega-shelter is run by trained staff — a nonprofit.

I believe the worker looking after these kids who said she’d like to see a day when they don’t have to do this.

But things are moving in the wrong direction — capacity is 1497 and tonight 1469 boys will sleep here.

— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) June 14, 2018

I have been inside a federal prison and county jails.

This place is called a shelter but these kids are incarcerated.

No cells and no cages, and they get to go to classes about American history and watch Moana, but they’re in custody.

Coming up on @allinwithchris next.

— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) June 14, 2018

Colbert says: “We’d still be the only country in the whole world doing it because it’s just plain wrong,” and for Father’s day, pleads with his viewers for them to call their elected representatives and demand these actions are not enforced, saying:

“It doesn’t matter who you voted for. If we do this in our name, we are a feckless country.”

If you want to find your district’s Congressional Representative, you can visit callyourrep.co, and to find your State Senator visit this website and scroll until you find your state.

It is up to us to avoid America becoming more and more like the monstrous, inhuman and bigoted dictatorships we have always prided ourselves on not being, and we have to continue to be the kind of country that immigrants have called home through most of the United States’ greatest years; the same concept that actually made America great to the rest of the world. Call your senator and representative today.

What did you think of Colbert’s video? Let us know in the comments, or on Twitter at @WhatsTrending.