Mormon church blasts family separations at US-Mexico border

Stefanie Herweck stands with other protesters in front of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Rio Grande Valley Sector's Centralized Processing Center in McAllen, Texas, June 17, 2018 | Photo by Joel Martinez/The Monitor via the Associated Press, St. George News

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church says it’s “deeply troubled” by the separation of families at the U.S-Mexico border and is urging national leaders to fix the situation and find compassionate solutions.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement Monday that the forced separations are “aggressive and insensitive” and especially harmful to the children.

The statement aligns with the Utah-based religion’s past calls for a compassionate approach to immigration reform. Earlier this year, the church called on national leaders to support “dreamer” immigrants who the religion says have earned the right to continue to contribute positively to society.

Other religions including the U.S. conference of Catholic bishops have already condemned the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from their parents at the border, which the U.S. has defended as enforcing the law.

Likewise, Utah politicians have condemned the practice and vowed to find a bipartisan solution.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

48 Comments

  • asianspa June 18, 2018 at 4:25 pm

    The mormon church business elite love cheap labor provided by illegals and they seem to think they can easily tap them to become members and provide nice revenue streams of 10% income for life. Democrats love cheap votes and Republicans love cheap labor… the illegal immigrant family separation is just a highly inflammatory issue meant to push more pro illegal agendas.

    Go to the Utah DWS website… nice big banner announcing how they can’t wait to sign you up for every program under the sun regardless of immigration/citizenship status. Fantastic… great job (R) state rhino’s!!!

  • NotSoFast June 18, 2018 at 4:39 pm

    It is a sad thing for the children to go through. But I think the parents knew it would happen. Maybe?

    Wonder what the church thinks of a southern boarder wall or a One World Order?

  • Utahguns June 18, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    The Mormons cornerstone of belief are the Thirteen Articles of Faith.
    Article #12 states that “We believe….”
    “… In sustaining the laws and leaders of the land.” (Article 12)
    That should include (if you’re truly honest and truthful) America’s immigration laws, or is that an abomination too?

  • Utahguns June 18, 2018 at 5:11 pm

    There’s a valid reason that the “separation of Church and State” is necessary.
    The State (in this case the Feds) historically won’t meddle in Church business, but if the church deems that a State (Federal) issue will benefit its own agenda in the form of increased membership ($$$), then that’s when boundaries are crossed.

  • Real Life June 18, 2018 at 5:21 pm

    If the LDS church wants to do something that will really be productive, they should send books and condoms to the rat hole countries that all of these illegals are pouring in from.

    • jaybird June 18, 2018 at 8:14 pm

      Racist comes out of the … hole he was born.
      Ed. ellipsis

      • Real Life June 19, 2018 at 8:51 am

        Huge difference between being racist and being observant.

    • Striker4 June 19, 2018 at 6:47 am

      Awwww po widdle No Life got his pretty pink panties ruffled again…whaaaaaa whaaaaaa

      • Real Life June 19, 2018 at 8:50 am

        3 days? That must have been a good bender. Welcome back!

  • Not_So_Much June 18, 2018 at 5:27 pm

    Build the wall and then go from there.

    • jaybird June 18, 2018 at 8:16 pm

      Thats all you tone deaf pigs know, build the wall when most all contraband come by truck. Not too smart, as dumb as a fart you are.

  • John June 18, 2018 at 6:02 pm

    What part of the word”ILLEGAL” do they need explained?

    • jaybird June 18, 2018 at 8:12 pm

      NOT illegal, policy, of the TRUMP ADMIN, cult attendee. Get your head out of Trumps … .
      Ed. ellipsis

      • Tyler June 18, 2018 at 8:33 pm

        Uhhhh… all you libtards are forgetting this is Good ol Billy’s policy not Trumps. Just Democrat initiative.

        • jaybird June 18, 2018 at 8:47 pm

          Sorry this is the first any one has heard this because Trumps policy overrides and pushed past the law.

          • Tyler June 18, 2018 at 9:22 pm

            Hahahaha… libtard logic

        • John June 18, 2018 at 9:16 pm

          jailbird has a real problem when it comes to facts…typical low intelligence liberal. Here’s a fact if you can read with that little bird brain of yours
          Research it for yourself! Clinton enacted the Flores Consent Decree in 1997 that separates kids from their parents when they get caught crossing the border illegally!

          • jaybird June 18, 2018 at 9:29 pm

            And you only speak for johns and methhead flunkies.

        • John June 18, 2018 at 9:19 pm

          The only thing jailbird is good for is providing reinforcement that he is clueless and watches too much CNN. I think that’s all they let them watch in their cells.

          • jaybird June 18, 2018 at 9:30 pm

            Actually I read, something you cant even spell. Methhead…

          • John June 18, 2018 at 11:11 pm

            you’d never know it by your comments jailbird, you are one dumb libtard. hahahahahahaha!

          • jaybird June 19, 2018 at 6:55 pm

            John you trade in pre k insults, a … for brains denoting the toilet you are.
            Ed. ellipsis

          • jaybird June 19, 2018 at 6:59 pm

            Libtard is a complement when it comes from a debase unprincipled Trump turdhead without money.

  • think4urself June 18, 2018 at 6:45 pm

    Wait wait wait… Sessions is quoting the Bible, specifically the apostle Paul as his reason for doing such atrocities. Also the Mormon article of faith states ‘’We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, >>in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.<< ‘’ The church should be just fine with what Sessions is doing. Mormons are SO contradicting and conflicted! Ugh.

  • vickbill June 18, 2018 at 9:16 pm

    It’s so sad to see the Church not get the facts right before they issue a statement. Liberals are unfortunately taking over. Facts: most of the children being held did not come with a parent. Those who did can be reunited quickly if they accept to go back to Mexico. The problem comes when the parents want asylum, the loop hole then the parents must be held until a court date. The law says children can only be held twenty days. Once again the bad people are the ones enforcing the law and the victims are the ones breaking the law. Why don’t they take asylum in Mexico.

  • Rafiki June 18, 2018 at 9:58 pm

    Ahhh the Mormon’s upset about the very thing they voted for….(the red agenda). Snowflakes if you ask me… don’t vote for hate if you can’t swallow the medicine!!!

    Build bigger camps and vote for Trump in 2020 ‘as all the Mormons will’. Perhaps we can fire up the ovens to take care of our problems!!!

    (Sarcasm implied by me)… “please don’t do any of the above”

  • comments June 19, 2018 at 1:12 am

    The only thing that will “deeply trouble” my LDS church is losing or not making enough $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Illegal aliens are as good a revenue stream as any to them, and they are easier to convert than citizens, which = cha-ching $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Less illegals in this country is something they see as money out the window. amen to that

  • ladybugavenger June 19, 2018 at 6:39 am

    If you dont want your family separated, dont cross illegally.

    In our country, people get shot and killed everyday. Children are separated from parents everyday. Innocent get accused of being guilty and guilty are found innocent. People that are US citizens are arrested everyday in this country for breaking the law.

    And now, I just see people from other countries want special treatment.

    You dont have to agree with laws. And laws do change. But, you should obey are laws.

    Opening borders for a flood gait of people, is not the answer. We cant save the world, jesus already died for that. Everyone has a choice to accept Jesus or not.

    • bikeandfish June 19, 2018 at 12:25 pm

      How many times are you going to use Jesus as a cop out instead of using his teachings as rational to hold the person you elected to higher standards?

      True Christians, the ones who know that the New Testament recognizes the laws of men are often in direct conflict with the compassion of Jesus, are openly calling out the hypocrisy of folks like you. I think you need to open your Bible up again LBA and learn how truly unchristian your justifications are.

      • ladybugavenger June 19, 2018 at 2:46 pm

        How many times? Hmmmm, until you get it right?

        FYI: I’m not Jesus.

        • bikeandfish June 19, 2018 at 6:39 pm

          No one confused you for Jesus but it does appear we confused you as a Christian. There is alot more to the Bible than you own salvation and it has little to do with a using a hardline “zero-tolerance” interpretation of the law that creates a humanitarian crisis.

          • ladybugavenger June 20, 2018 at 11:12 am

            You dont even believe in Jesus as a savior. You dont even have a clue what it’s like to be a believer in Jesus. You judge me only because I believe in God and no other reason.

            Its not because of my belief that everyday a US citizen is arrested for breaking the law, that you condemn me. It’s not because, US Citizens have children in horrific foster care program and taken away from their parents for breaking a law, of why you condemn me. It’s because I believe in God, is the only reason why you condemn me.

            You only bring up and judge me that I’m suppose to be some certain way because of your belief of what I’m suppose to be.

            If I commit a crime of theft, I should be arrested for it.

            If I’m in another country and I dont have documentation to be there, odds are, I’d be arrested. There could be 1,000 people that dont have documentation and I know, I would be that 1 out of a thousand to be arrested.

            I dont know why you challenge and condemn me for my belief in Jesus but that’s the only reason you challenge me and condemn me.

            There’s a world of people like you.

          • ladybugavenger June 20, 2018 at 11:52 am

            A humanitarian crisis is the foster care program right here in our Country. Families ripped apart whether it be from divorce or a bitter spouse, or the father or mother is sent to prison for a crime they commit. Or it be it for false allegations that a child is taken away from a home, that’s a humanitarian crisis thats been going on for decades. That a crisis that is covered up by people like you saying, somehow, those parents deserved it

            People should not cross the border illegally. It has to stop. What’s happening is tragic, but a message has to sent to STOP and come here legally. And people like you, say that it’s ok you and your parents dont deserve this

            It’s as if, the illegals are more important and justified than citizens.

            Our system is broken.

            Think about the children here on our country traumatized everyday from being ripped away from their families. Our country is full of children that are abused by our system that become drug addicts and teenage pregnancy while in foster care. Then, if left unchecked, they grow up to be adults with mental illness, criminal minds, bitterness, hatred, and some become murderers. That’s a tragedy. And you condemn me for sending a message of hope to the people. One of peace, one of comfort, one of overcoming the tragedies in our lives. There’s hope in Jesus and you condemn for it.

            All of your science, fancy words, and facts have no healing power for anyone struggling to find peace of mind. There is forgiveness, hope, joy, in spite of tragedy. There is a way to overcome suicidal thoughts, depression, bitterness, hatred and so much more and its through Jesus.

            I have had so much tragedy in my life, I thought i was going die from a broken heart because it actually felt like someone was ripping it out. Painful painful painful. And I was a believer then like I am now and the only way I got through it was because I kept on believing in spite, of all the people that came against me just like you.

            You may label me, condemn me, accuse me of whatever it is you are accusing me of.

            Illegals are not more important than our citizens. They should not be treated differently. And once you realize how horrific the people in our country are: the liars, the cheaters, the criminals, the murders, the rapists, the hungry children, the homeless, the gang bangers, and so on and you can fix that, then maybe you can fix another country citizens.

            To sit here or stand up for criminals just because they are illegal is unfair to our whole country.

            When you stand up for all the kids taken away from their parents here, in your neighborhood, and my neighborhood, and other US neighborhoods, I’ll open my heart to you.

            But to stand there and defend crimes from non US citizens without
            taking in consideration and fighting against our broken system taking away children (I’ll tell you, it’s not like you read how good they are and saving children, its horrific and tragic and creates monsters) then all you are is fake.

            I may not be who you think I should be. But one thing I am not is fake. I dont hide my intention. I dont hurt people.

            If you notice when you challenge me, I dont challenge you back, I dont attack your atheism. But instead, i share my heart. And as awful as you think i am, i am authentic.

            I have called you a pompous ass. But dont you worry, when my husband is being a pompous ass, I’ll call him that too. ? me and my husband keep it real because we need balance to stay on track.

            No matter how jacked up I am, I keep it real.

            I’m constitutional protected for my belief in God. If you dont like my speech, then it’s not meant for you.

          • ladybugavenger June 20, 2018 at 12:02 pm

            I’ve had an entire gov’t system against me and my husband along with my family because they thought I was mentally disturbed because I believed in God (my mom apologized on her death bed). It was me and my husband against the world, do to speak, it was alot tho, they even tried to scare us with guns to shut is up. So you and the little other commenters coming at me because of my belief in Jesus ain’t nothing- I’m alot stronger now!!!
            You cant waiver my belief.

          • ladybugavenger June 20, 2018 at 12:10 pm

            I would rather defend myself, than offend you. My husband, is the opposite. We are quite the balance for each other. But one thing we have in common is we both know Jesus died for our sins. 16 years and going strong!

            Little b&f you can challenge and attack my comments but I advise you to not attack my belief in God. Remember, I’m constitutionally protected for my belief. I suggest you take that under consideration.

            You can make fun of me and what I believe, you can make jokes about it, you can say stuff in love, like atheist theone does. But I suggest you stay away from attacking me based on what you believe I should be.

            We can all love each other and not agree with eachother

          • ladybugavenger June 20, 2018 at 12:13 pm

            “atheist Bob” has never come at me for my belief, in a hateful way. I have much respect for “atheist” Bob.

            I’d like to have respect for you too b&f, but it starts with you.

  • vintagehippie June 19, 2018 at 9:08 am

    It seems that a lot of people commenting on this article are advocating that law breakers be allowed to stay with their children rather than go to jail. I’m saying this since it has not been the practice to send children to jail with their law-breaking parents for a very long time, if ever. I’m sure that a lot of thieves and drug dealers would like a similar “get out of jail free card”. That is what letting the children stay with their parents would amount to.

    • bikeandfish June 19, 2018 at 1:25 pm

      Are you comparing drug dealers and thieves to those whose only crime is crossing a border illegally to save their kids? Do you really think seeking asylum from violent and dangerous countries is the same as those crimes?

      Nor do you recognize that law always involves discretion in prosecution. Its true whether its from the executive, the DA, the judge or the jury. Its not binary like campaign slogans lead people to believe. There are a range of options between “zero-tolerance” and “catch and release” that your logic ignores.

      Trump and his supporters like you own this humanitarian crisis until you come up with a better solution.

      • ladybugavenger June 19, 2018 at 5:00 pm

        Yep, a crime is a crime. Many US citizens that break the law have their reasons to do so. Maybe they were abused and beaten as a child, maybe they were abandoned. Maybe that’s all they know how to survive. But that’s no excuse, they have to learn personal accountability.

        Illegals are illegal. One step in an illegal direction, then all of a sudden they have fake documents, not paying taxes or paying them under a fraudulent social security number and never file taxes. Making decent money but it’s all a lie. (This is really happening in my extended family. This is real stuff) it’s not right or honorable. Do I think God honors this? No. No I dont. In my heart of hearts, it’s not honorable. But God is merciful and full of grace, as long as there is breath there’s time to get it right.

        Do I think the world is ok with it? Yes, as long as there are bike and fishes supporting them and enabling them.

        You dont even believe in Hod, but you know what? I believe illegals do believe in God.

        No, I dont think kids should be held like prisoners, but that’s the parents fault, for crossing illegally.

        • ladybugavenger June 19, 2018 at 5:02 pm

          *God

        • bikeandfish June 19, 2018 at 6:35 pm

          You are correct, I don’t believe in your god nor do I need to in order to call out the hypocrisy between the government actions you support and the religious doctrine you claim to care about. At some point I hope you have an awareness of this dissonance and recognize you are supporting inhumane and unchristian policy. But if Session’s own church sanctioning him publicly isn’t enough then I’m not holding out much hope for the Christ-ian element of your religion to behave accordingly.

          It mighty frightening how black-and-white Trump Christians are about “law and order”. Its some of the most ahistoric and inaccurate understanding of civics and law I have ever witnessed.

      • vintagehippie June 19, 2018 at 9:16 pm

        The fact that Trump has separated children from their parents is nothing new. Obama also separated children from their parents.

        Liberals have reported that as many 10,000 children have been moved to federal facilities. In some cases various left media has stated that this is the number of children that have been separated from their familes. However a bit over 8,000 of these children were not being accompanied by any parent. Release of these children would put them at risk of various child abuse including sexual trafficking. According to a recent Frontline article, “A Senate investigation in 2016 found that many of these minors were vulnerable to labor trafficking, sometimes forced into unsafe working conditions in order to pay off debts from their smugglers.”

        Of the less that 2,000 which were separated from their parents it is being done due to the fact that children cannot and should not be detained along with the adults that awaiting resolution of their asylum claims. Their parents entered the U.S. via Mexico. If the parents are willing to return to Mexico and apply for assylm from there they can remain with their children until their case is reviewed. Mexico has already indicated a willingness to provide asylum to these individuals.

        One of the reasons the parents cannot be released into the U.S. to reunite with their children is that by far most never show up for their asylum hearings. Add in the fact that according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) more individuals from the Northern Triangle region sought affirmative asylum in the United States between 2013 to 2015 than in the previous 15 years combined. Admittedly, this has overwhelmed our immigration resources. There appears to be some effort by attorneys and immigrant groups aiming to swamp our immigration system to create the crisis that is now apparent. Regardless, anyone wishing to immigrant to the U.S. should do so through the legal channels.

  • 42214 June 19, 2018 at 11:25 pm

    We should tell the illegal tresspassers that if they promise to go back to where they came from they can have their kids back.

  • ladybugavenger June 20, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    My apologies b&f, you’re “agnostic” not “atheist” you actually talk more about God than I do ?

    • bikeandfish June 20, 2018 at 1:33 pm

      Glad you finally remember the difference. I don’t pretend to myself that I know wether or not a god exists.

      And nice deflection again. I’m not coming at you for believing in a Christian god. I challenge you because your political statements and views here are completely inconsistent with the Bible and Christianity that you volunteer up here regularly. But you know that. I’m guessing the deflection is an attempt to wall off that obvious criticism but that’s just a guess. Maybe you are so detached or ill-informed about the heart of biblical teachings and doctrine that you don’t see the blatant dissonance.

      You aren’t the only self-proclaimed Christian dealing with this criticism. But Trump supporters like you are owning the outcomes and policy that antithetical to everything your saviour stood up to.

      I recommend you “study” the law better (you have tried to claim you studied it in the past). Zero tolerance is just one tool in the enforcement tool box and it can be the most damaging option like we are seeing in this case. And yes, some criminals are separated from their families if they are judged worthy of imprisonment. But not all crimes require jail and therefore separation. We regularly allow non-violent criminals to live with their families until their case is tried and sentenced and many if not most never see jail. You would know this if you “studied” law. We do that because we are a reasonable, justice-oriented society that know “zero-tolerance” punishment are often only successful at being cathartic. All the while we know unnecessarily separating non-violent criminals from their families and jail often comes with lopsided and deleterious consequences to the criminal, their family and society. That’s a truly Christian construct and value-oriented understanding of law. It focuses on bettering society and individuals not the catharsis of punitive enforcement.

      And i don’t hate anyone here. Hate is a waste of energy for the one carrying it. Don’t confuse calling out hypocrisy with your own confessed allegiances as hate. They are not the same.

      And this has nothing to do with the Constitution. The government isn’t involved here nor is your ability to practice religion being infringed. The only thing being infringed here is your comfort in vocalizing inhumane and unchristian ideas. One of the purposes of free speech is to bring to light such inconsistencies and expose fallacious logic for what it is.

      • ladybugavenger June 20, 2018 at 2:28 pm

        Trump signed an executive order to keep those families together while they are being detained.

        I think everyone agrees that it was horrific conditions to put those children through.

        I never said if wasnt. What I did say, is dont come over here illegally. And we have our own separation of children problem.

        Hypocrisy, is in your mind of what you think I should be vs who I am. Lol.

        But……

        Heck yeah im a hypocrite, probably everyday I do something or say something I shouldn’t. Lol….you should hear me at work haha! I love customers! Then that one customer comes in…..ugh I hate customers lol Hypocrite!

        • ladybugavenger June 20, 2018 at 2:44 pm

          Oh I see you’re calling me a hypocrite because you think my morality is in conflict of my beliefs.

          Lol…..I should really call in to work sick one day because I think of calling out sick every day, but my frick’n morals get in the way and I’m afraid to leave my co workers short handed and I’ll l get sick if I lie that I’m sick…

          Are you talking about those kind of morals?

          Or you thonk I just I completely lack compassion?

          It doesn’t matter. All you know about me is what I write on here. And if you cant love all my personalities and different points of view. I understand. I’m a tough pill to swallow lol

          Some days I am co dependant and some days I’m not. It’s a hard cycle to break. In my co defendant days, I have to remember, people go through things to help them grow, to pull myself out of wanting to rescue them. On my non co dependant days, I can appear to be mean. Being raised codependent isn’t an easy cycle to break. I’ll find the sweet spot one day!

          I’m glad you were raised by “normal” people ?

      • ladybugavenger June 20, 2018 at 4:49 pm

        I love you b&f ❤

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.