Sen. Susan Collins called the federal government’s policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border “inhumane” and said she is seeking a legislative solution to the issue, even as the Trump administration doubled down on the policy Monday despite mounting criticism.

As one of a handful of Republican moderates in the Senate, Collins is under intense pressure on the issue, and two rallies are planned for Maine in the coming week – Wednesday in Bangor in front of the office of Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-2nd District, and next Monday in front of Portland City Hall. A protest last week in front of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection offices in South Portland that drew about 100 people was part of a national day of action against the Department of Homeland Security’s “zero tolerance” policy.

Although Collins criticized the White House initiative and noted that the simplest and quickest solution would be for the administration to reverse course, she was unwilling to support legislation promoted by Democrats that would reverse it. All 49 Senate Democrats and left-leaning independents, including Sen. Angus King of Maine, support the bill by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called the Keep Families Together Act.

“I oppose the administration’s policy that is leading to children being separated from their parents,” Collins said in a prepared statement sent Monday to the Portland Press Herald. “It is traumatizing to children, inhumane, and contrary to our American values.”

Collins said she can’t back Feinstein’s bill – calling it “too broad” – and is looking for a legislative solution that can gain support from Republicans and Democrats. The legislation that Collins is working on would specifically address the family separation issue and not be part of a sweeping immigration reform bill, her office said.

“I have talked to Senator Feinstein and other colleagues on both sides of the aisle about this problem at the border and will continue to work with them on a legislative solution,” Collins said in the statement.

Jessica Stewart, of Mainers for Accountable Leadership and a Catholic social justice advocate, said the family separation policy is a crisis that needs immediate attention. She criticized Collins for not moving more quickly.

“This is an emergency public health, moral and humanitarian crisis,” Stewart said. “It’s very frustrating to see Susan Collins with this wish-washy position. This is not the time for equivocation. Children are being deeply harmed right now.”

Stewart said if Collins were to take a strong stand and advocate for action, “this would be a defining moment for her. She should show real compassion and stand up for justice.”

Collins said she couldn’t support Feinstein’s legislation because it would make it “difficult if not impossible to prosecute undocumented immigrants who are charged with other serious crimes if they have crossed the border with a child.”

However, an immigration expert with the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank based in Washington, D.C., said Feinstein’s bill would not hamper border patrol agents.

“Nothing in the bill limits arrest authority at all,” Tom Jawetz, vice president of immigration policy at the center, said in a tweet.

Collins also has supported bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bills, but those efforts have failed to pass Congress in the past several years.

King, an independent who called separating children from their parents “an obscene practice,” said the White House created the situation and could easily end it.

“The law does not require separating children from their parents,” he said in an impassioned plea Monday afternoon on the Senate floor. “This is a policy that was adopted by this administration in April and implemented in May. This is not required by law. This is a policy decision and it can be rescinded by a phone call from the president. It can be solved this afternoon.”

Prominent Republicans have criticized the Trump administration’s policy, with former first lady Laura Bush calling it “immoral” in a Washington Post op-ed.

But so far, no Republicans in Congress have signed onto the Keep Families Together Act or introduced similar legislation.

President Trump has been blaming Democrats or saying his hands are tied because of current federal law – both claims that have been proven to be untrue. Trump administration officials also have falsely said that children are not being separated from their parents at the border.

The Associated Press has reported that about 2,000 children – including infants and toddlers – were separated from their parents when crossing the border in April and May. Many are seeking asylum, which is a legal form of entry into the U.S. for refugees from countries where they are in danger from wars, persecution or violence.

Susan Roche, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, a Portland-based initiative that assists immigrants with legal issues, said the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” practice contradicts decades of immigration policies under Democratic and Republican administrations.

Roche said that before Trump became president, in most cases families crossing the border seeking political asylum would not be forcibly separated. If there were legal questions surrounding how they crossed the border, they would have their cases heard before civil immigration courts, she said. In those situations, families would not be separated unless there was an unusual circumstance.

Roche said the practice may be violating international law, but the immediate impact is to harm children, create a humanitarian crisis and cause problems in immigrant communities throughout the U.S.

“It is creating a culture of extreme fear,” she said. “Everyone is afraid of being deported.”

Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, told the Press Herald in a phone interview that criticism of the policy is accelerating.

“This is an outrageous and inhumane practice. There is no question we could fix this this week if we could get votes on the floor. The votes are there,” Pingree said.

Poliquin spokesman Brendan Conley said the congressman is reviewing the facts and policies surrounding the issue.

“Congressman Poliquin never wants there to be a situation where children are being separated from their parents,” Conley said Sunday in a prepared statement. “He is pushing for Congress to act quickly in passing meaningful immigration reform, something that is decades overdue, with Congresses and White Houses under the control of both Democrats and Republicans failing to get it done. With thousands of illegal border crossings every day from individuals who are breaking the law and not going to official ports of entry, there is a serious national security problem. He is currently reviewing the issue and possible reform strategies, reviewing all relevant legislation.”

Zach Rouda, who is organizing next Monday’s protest in Portland, said he was inspired by the news and the inhumanity of what’s happening. Rouda said he posted the event on Facebook believing it would be a small gathering, but it has attracted so much attention that he now is going to have speakers and receive help organizing the event.

“Childhood trauma is what is most outrageous about this,” Rouda said. “It’s like the Trump administration wants these children to be traumatized.”

Staff Writer Megan Doyle contributed to this report.

Joe Lawlor can be contacted at 791-6376 or at:

jlawlor@pressherald.com

Twitter: joelawlorph

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