GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Four members of Congress were able to meet with children who were detained at the U.S. border and are now being housed by Bethany Christian Services here in Michigan.
Michigan Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn), Dan Kildee (D-Flint Twp.) and Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) and Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Niles) were given a tour on Thursday, July 5, of one of the facilities used by Bethany Christian.
The lawmakers did not specify what type of facility they visited, but did indicate there were a "good amount" of children being housed there. All four agreed that these children were receiving excellent care at the hands of Bethany Christian.
"These social workers are angels -- they are angels," Dingell said. "They are trying to make sure these children can talk to their parents. Some detention centers hang up the phone and won't even work with them."
Dingell said she hopes that people will stop asserting that showing compassion for the children affected by the border crisis is a jab at domestic foster children.
"All of us care about our children wherever they come from, that’s part of our responsibility," Dingell said. "I want to keep terrorists out of this country and I want to keep the MS-13 gang out of this country, but I don’t want to lose compassion for people who need help."
Rep. Kildee became especially emotional as he drew parallels from his former occupation in child welfare.
"I don’t wanna understate the conditions. It was obviously good to see they are being well cared for, but that’s a separate and completely distinct question from the under lying policy," Kildee said. "They still carry with them the memory of the moment they were taken from their mom, or dad or grandparent and in some cases not even being told where they are going. That’s something that will stay with them forever."
A statement from Rep. Ryan caused Huizenga to physically separate himself from the group.
"This is state sanctioned abuse on behalf of the United States," Ryan said.
Huizenga addressed Ryan's comment saying that type of rhetoric will hinder Congress' progress.
Huizenga also said while he does not support the separation of families, he does believe a strict immigration policy needs to be in place.
"We cannot allow the border integrity that we must have -- to be sacrificed as well."
A court order called on all children to be reunited with their parents by next week, however, it remains unclear how Bethany Christian will be able to achieve that.
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Emma Nicolas is a multimedia journalist. Have a news tip or question for Emma? Get in touch by email enicolas@wzzm13.com, Facebook or Twitter.