Reunification for Eligible Children

HHS Secretary Alex Azar, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reunification efforts for children under age 5 has been completed.

“Dedicated teams at the Departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Justice have worked tirelessly. Our agencies’ careful vetting procedures helped prevent the reunification of children with an alleged murderer, an adult convicted of child cruelty, and adults determined not to be the parent of the child. Trump administration does not approach this mission lightly, and we intend to continue our good faith efforts to reunify families.”

“The American people gave this administration a mandate to end the lawlessness at the border, and #President Trump is keeping his promise to do exactly that. The message has been clear all along: Do not risk your own life or the life of your child by attempting to enter the United States illegally. Apply lawfully and wait your turn.”

“The American immigration system is the most generous in the world, but we are a nation of laws and we intend to continue enforcing those laws.”

There are 103 children under age 5 covered by the court case. Of the 103 children:

• 57 children have been reunified as of 7 a.m. EST on July 12.
• 46 children were acknowledged by the court to be ineligible for reunification or determined by HHS, DHS, and DOJ to be ineligible under court-approved criteria.

Of these 46:

• 22 children have been found ineligible due to safety concerns posed by the adults in question:
• 11 adults have a serious criminal history (charges or convictions for child cruelty, kidnapping, murder, human smuggling, domestic violence, etc.).
• 7 adults were determined not to be a parent.
• 1 adult had a falsified birth certificate (parentage is being examined).
• 1 adult was alleged to have abused the child.
• 1 adult planned to house the child with an adult charged with sexually abusing a child.
• 1 adult is being treated for a communicable disease.

• 24 children are not currently eligible for reunification due to circumstances of the adults in question:
• 12 adults have been deported and are being contacted.
• 9 adults are in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service for other offenses.
• 2 adults are in custody of state jails for other offenses.
• 1 adult’s location has been unknown for over a year.

President Trump and the First Lady greet freed Americans

At 3 AM Thursday morning President Trump and the First Lady Melania greeted the three Americans detained as prisoners in North Korea as they arrived to a cheering crowd at the Joint Base Andrews airport. With happy faces and giving the peace sign the three men stood glad to be home. Mr. Kim Dong-Chul was asked how it felt to finally be home, he reply though an interpreter that it was like a dream and they were all very, very happy. He said they were treated in different ways and that he had to do labor but when he became sick they treated his illness. The three men stood thinner, with graying hair but looked on the surface in fair condition from their year long plus ordeal. On their way back to the U. S. medical stop were made to assure they were alright.

Free at last

North Korea/Photo by korea_style pixabay

Mr. Kim Dong-chul was arrested in 2015 after being accused of spying, in 2016 he was sentenced to 10 years of hard labor. Mr. Kim Sang-duk, called by family members Tony Kim, had taught at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, the first private university in North Korea. He was arrested for "hostile criminal acts" against the regime in April 2017. Mr. Kim Hak-song also worked at the Pyongyang University doing research, he was arrested in 2017, a month after Mr. Sung-duk on the same offense. North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un granted the three amnesty after several meetings with newly sworn in Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. All three men will be checked into Walter Reed Medical Center for decompression time.

Questions asked

In an interview with ABC News' Johnathan Karl on Thursday morning, Vice President Mike Pence stated he felt the release of the three men was due to the president's policy of peace through strength. And it is a good sign that they were released without any concessions. An array of questions from the media was thrown at President Trump as they walked down the tarmac, of which President Trump was happy to response. Stating he appreciated Kim Jong-un allowed the three to be released before their meeting. That nothing had changed concerning the meeting but this does help in starting on a new foot. He noted that he felt Jong-un wants to bring his country into the real world and that one of his proudest moments would be if he succeeds in denuclearize that entire peninsula.

Breaking News: President Trump tweeted that the meeting with Kim Jong Un will take place in Singapore on June 12. Adding that they both will try to make it a very special moment for World Peace.

President Trump issues vetting memorandum to improve U.S. security

In a non-fanfare way, #President Trump issued a memorandum, on Feb. 6^th, directing the establishment of a National Vetting Center. It's goal will be to improve the way the United States Government coordinate and use intelligence and other information to identify individuals who present a threat to national security, homeland and border security, or would pose a threat to public safety. The National Vetting Center will be accountable to the oversight and guidance of a National Vetting Governance Board, and will follow the policies and procedures in agreement with the Constitution; Executive Order 12333 of December 4, 1981, and other applicable laws. 

 

Raising the bar

The Secretary of Homeland Security was put in charge of designating the director of the Center, who will manage the day-to-day operations. The Secretary of State and the Attorney General will appoint a senior official from each of their agencies to serve as deputy directors. The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency are to work together and provide input on issues and solutions on how to best ensure and protect the United States from terrorist attacks and other public safety threats. 

Making sure the mission is right

Together the above agencies shall establish a Board, consisting of six senior executives. The Board is to provide guidance for the national #vetting enterprise and support activities of the Center in their efforts to achieve the mission of ensuring the safety, security, and prosperity of the United States. The agencies have 180 days to carry out President Trump's memorandum and must submit a joint detail report to the President every 180 days of efforts achieved and/or implemented under the Presidents approval. Agencies participating in the Center are to use their own funds, with no inter-agency financing allowed.

Support of stronger vetting

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen, praised President Trump's action to improve the vetting and screening of those that want to enter our country. Secretary Nielsen stated, The National Vetting Center will support DHS and the U.S. intelligence agencies with their need of real-time information and will play a critical role by providing a central place for them to stay on top of Intel and law enforcement data. The President's commitment to put in place tougher vetting and screening measures, an improved coordination of departments and a greater use of known intelligence means earlier detection of threats.