Immigration Protests: Demonstrators march against Trump administration policies

World
Europe

02:45

Marches in and outside of the US are protesting President Trump's zero tolerance immigration policy. The demonstrations were over the separation of children from migrant parents - a policy the Trump Administration recently ended. CGTN's Toby Muse was at one of the largest rallies in Washington.

Thousands turned out for nationwide Families Belong Together rallies to protest Donald Trump's immigration policy and urge citizens to vote in November midterm elections.

Events took place in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and hundreds of other cities. The protestors were supporting the over 2,000 migrant children separated from their families detained at the U.S.- Mexico border. Protestors converged near the White House.

SHELBY WORKMAN PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER "I brought my kids and family here. Watching the news and seeing the immigration policies, it was breaking my heart."

The protestors are demanding that the government reunite these children with their families quickly.

JOSHUA GUTTMAN TECHNICAL WRITER "I'm here to protest the way Donald Trump's handling the separation policies and the pitiful attempts to reunite the families."

TOBY MUSE WASHINGTON "To give you an idea of just how angry people are, organizers originally thought just five-thousand people would turn up. Now they think over 50-thousand people have come here to protest Donald Trump's immigration policy, right here in front of the White House."

After facing backlash on his immigration policy, President Trump signed an executive order on June 20th reversing the policy of family separations.

Earlier week, a California federal judge ordered a nationwide reunification of children and parents- ending most family separations at the border within 30 days.

And late Friday, the Department of Justice said in a court filing they will comply with the judge but argued they are now allowed to detain families in temporary shelters together as long as it takes to resolve their immigration cases.

More than 2,500 children have been separated from their families since the policy began two months ago.

The government says over 500 children have been placed back with their families. The children will remain in federal shelters across the country while the government tries to reunite the detained families.

In Washington, D.C., there were various chants of vote them out making clear that immigration will likely be a major issue in mid-term elections this fall. Toby Muse, CGTN, Washington.