White evangelicals mostly silent on zero tolerance, border separations
The images and sounds of the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy flashed across television screens and social media posts: Wailing toddlers flanked by armed Border Patrol agents. Children huddled under foil blankets in detention centers. A seven-minute recording of weeping youngsters crying out “Mami!” and “Papa!”
As news reports and eyewitness accounts of children being yanked away from parents seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border spread, religious leaders began to speak out.
One by one, they condemned the new policy, which was announced in April by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and has resulted in the separation of more than 2,300 children from their parents.
But among the chorus of voices condemning the Trump policy, some were missing — as many key white evangelical leaders remained silent or defended the president and his actions.
The divide between faith leaders illustrates the strong support President Donald Trump continues to have with the evangelical base, even on an issue that has horrified much of the country — and many in the religious community.