U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today pilloried Donald Trump’s announced executive order to curb his administration’s self-made crisis of separating migrant children from their parents.

“Donald Trump and his enablers have spent the last week lying through their teeth about the humanitarian catastrophe they created. They blame misunderstandings. They blame laws that don’t exist. They blame Democrats. And just a few days ago, Trump said the crisis couldn’t be solved by executive order. We shouldn’t believe a word they say. I saw firsthand what Trump’s polices are doing when I visited a detention center in New Jersey. This administration must stop ripping children from their parents. And it must end its despicable treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. Until then, I will view this as just another bad faith stunt designed to deflect blame and muddy the waters.

“For more than a decade, Republicans have rejected every immigration compromise put in front of them. Just yesterday, the Republican caucus was giving Trump a standing ovation, and tomorrow they are offering two sham immigration bills. Majorities in both chambers stand ready to keep families together, protect Dreamers, and to pass comprehensive immigration reform. It’s up to Trump and Republicans to deliver and stop governing by chaos, corruption, and complicity.”