June 22, 2018

Trump Falsely Accuses Democrats of Telling “Phony Stories of Sadness” at the Border

After repeatedly claiming he had “compassion” for migrant families this week.

Brian Cahn/ZUMA

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President Donald Trump on Friday accused Democrats of circulating fake stories of “sadness and grief” at the border for political gain. The baseless charge came shortly after the president urged Republicans to stall immigration negotiations until after the November midterm elections—apparently betting on the unlikely possibility that the public outcry over his administration’s zero-tolerance immigration stance will soon recede.

Since more than 2,300 children were separated from their families last month, many Americans across the political spectrum have expressed outrage over the heartbreaking images, news reports, and audio recordings of children crying inside the detention centers that have been the direct result of the Trump administration’s decision to prosecute anyone who attempts to enter the country illegally.

While the overwhelming public response prompted a rare reversal by Trump to end the separations this week, it remains exceedingly unclear how the government will be able to move forward with its new goal of detaining families together—a long-term option currently barred thanks to a federal ruling that prohibits the detainment of migrant children for more than 20 days.

Meanwhile, Republicans are scrambling to hammer out an immigration bill, with many inside the party fearing that the president’s immigration crisis will cost them in the crucial, upcoming elections. Nonetheless, with the president’s approval ratings remaining high despite the outrage, he continues to stay on message. 

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WHO DOESN’T LOVE A POSITIVE STORY—OR TWO?

“Great journalism really does make a difference in this world: it can even save kids.”

That’s what a civil rights lawyer wrote to Julia Lurie, the day after her major investigation into a psychiatric hospital chain that uses foster children as “cash cows” published, letting her know he was using her findings that same day in a hearing to keep a child out of one of the facilities we investigated.

That’s awesome. As is the fact that Julia, who spent a full year reporting this challenging story, promptly heard from a Senate committee that will use her work in their own investigation of Universal Health Services. There’s no doubt her revelations will continue to have a big impact in the months and years to come.

Like another story about Mother Jones’ real-world impact.

This one, a multiyear investigation, published in 2021, exposed conditions in sugar work camps in the Dominican Republic owned by Central Romana—the conglomerate behind brands like C&H and Domino, whose product ends up in our Hershey bars and other sweets. A year ago, the Biden administration banned sugar imports from Central Romana. And just recently, we learned of a previously undisclosed investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, looking into working conditions at Central Romana. How big of a deal is this?

“This could be the first time a corporation would be held criminally liable for forced labor in their own supply chains,” according to a retired special agent we talked to.

Wow.

And it is only because Mother Jones is funded primarily by donations from readers that we can mount ambitious, yearlong—or more—investigations like these two stories that are making waves.

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