“Today, we will examine the #TrumpAdmin’s inhumane policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border.”- Chairman @RepCummings

“I use the word inhumane for a reason. Separating children from their mothers and fathers causes lasting damage that may endure for the rest of their lives.”

“The #TrumpAdmin adopted this child separation policy intentionally—purposefully—as a tactic to deter people from coming to the United States and seeking asylum.”

“As many of you know, this is an issue I care very deeply about. Last year, while Democrats were in the minority, I begged the Republican leaders of this Committee to take action.”

“But they refused. I wrote letters seeking information about these children. I spoke up at completely unrelated hearings to warn about the plight of these kids. But I was ignored.”

"One Republican, Rep. Mark Meadows, agreed to join me in sending a letter seeking documents. I thank him for that. But the Administration ignored our letter, and we never got a single page. I am sorry to say, the Republicans were fine with that during the last Congress."

"Well, that was their watch. And this is ours. “Earlier this year, we issued subpoenas to the #DOJ, #HomelandSecurity,and #HHS. And now, we have finally begun to get documents.” oversight.house.gov/news/press-rel…

“Based on these documents, the Committee is releasing a staff report today that summarizes this preliminary information.” Full Report: oversight.house.gov/sites/democrat…

“To be clear, the information we have received is not complete. But even with this limited data, we can draw a few key findings."

“First, the #TrumpAdmin’s #childseparations were more harmful, traumatic, and chaotic than previously known.”

“Second, the #TrumpAdmin has not been candid with the American people about its purpose in separating children.”

“Third, the nightmare of child separations continues."

“Hundreds of additional children have been separated from their parents since a court ordered an end to the #TrumpAdmin’s “zero tolerance” policy more than a year ago.”

“Overall, the evidence shows that the #TrumpAdmin’s policies are causing the problems at the border—not helping to resolve them.”

"The #TrumpAdmin is detaining thousands of people who do not need to be detained and are not required to be detained."

"These policies are contributing to massive overcrowding, which is aggravating conditions, draining supplies, and endangering the health and safety of both detainees and government personnel."

"Today, my hope is that we can all agree on several basic points. Anyone in the custody of our government—especially a child—must be treated humanely and with respect. Children should be not separated from their mothers or fathers unless there is a true need for it."

"And our government must meticulously track both children and their parents so they can be reunited or placed with sponsors as quickly as possible."

“This is about our values as Americans. And we need to do everything in our power to make sure we are living up to those values as a nation.”-Chairman @RepCummings