Trump grapples with North Korea, border families
President Donald Trump’s administration battled on two foreign policy fronts last week as North Korea threatened to pull out of a summit and the administration announced a policy to separate parents and children who had crossed the border illegally.
Trump said Thursday the U.S. and North Korea were still preparing for a planned diplomatic meeting next month that would be the first in history between the two countries’ leaders, even after Pyongyang threatened to abandon the talks.
A statement from a state-run agency said North Korea would pull out if the U.S. pushes it “into a corner” on nuclear disarmament.
Trump reassured Kim Jong Un he would remain in power if North Korea disarms.
Also last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Monday a new policy to criminally prosecute border crossers and separate them from their children.
Internal Defense Department communications also signaled the administration is exploring the possibility of holding immigrant children on military bases instead of placing them in foster homes or with relatives, as was previously practiced.
Officials said existing facilities for immigrant children are near capacity and the new policy of separating families could push thousands more children into government care.