Skip to content

Rep. Lee Wants UN to Investigate Family Separation

Calls Trump’s executive order reversing policy ‘a sham’

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., called on the United Nations to investigate the conditions of detention facilities where children separated from their families are being housed. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., called on the United Nations to investigate the conditions of detention facilities where children separated from their families are being housed. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

California Rep. Barbara Lee has asked the United Nations to investigate the impact of President Donald Trump’s policy of separating families at the U.S-Mexico border.

In a letter to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Lee asked the organization to send humanitarian observers to the border, ABC7 reported.

“I am appalled by the reports and images from detention facilities in Texas and other states along the border, where more than 2,300 children have been separated from their parents by border patrol agents,” she wrote in her letter.

Lee specifically asked that the conditions of detention facilities run by the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Refugee Resettlement be investigated.

“As a mother, a grandmother, and as a psychiatric social worker, I am most concerned for the physical and mental well-being of children separated from their parents at their most vulnerable time,” she said.

Despite President Donald Trump signing an executive order ending the policy of separating families, Lee continued to criticize the policies of the administration.

“By not ending zero tolerance, President Trump is keeping families in jail,” Lee tweeted.

Recent Stories

Muslim American appeals court nominee loses Democratic support

At the Races: Lieberman lookback

Court says South Carolina can use current congressional map

Joseph Lieberman: A Capitol life in photos

‘Take the money and run’: Obama, Clinton to raise campaign cash for Biden at A-list NYC event

Cole considered early favorite to win House Appropriations gavel