Fact Check: "Biden's administration banned family separation until 2031, but Trump violated it."
What We Know
The claim that "Biden's administration banned family separation until 2031" is misleading. In fact, President Biden's administration has not issued a formal ban on family separation that extends to 2031. Instead, the Biden administration has implemented policies aimed at reversing the family separation practices that were prevalent during the Trump administration. Specifically, in June 2021, the Biden administration announced a plan to reunite families separated at the border under the previous administration's "zero tolerance" policy, which led to thousands of children being separated from their parents (source).
Moreover, while the Biden administration has taken steps to prevent family separations, it has not set a legal ban that lasts until 2031. The administration's approach focuses on ensuring that families are kept together during immigration proceedings, but this does not equate to a formal legislative ban with a specific end date (source).
Analysis
The assertion that Biden's administration has a ban on family separation until 2031 appears to stem from a misunderstanding of the current immigration policies and the historical context of family separations. During Trump's presidency, the "zero tolerance" policy led to widespread family separations, which drew significant public outcry and legal challenges. The Biden administration's efforts to address this issue include creating a task force to reunite families and issuing guidance to prevent future separations (source).
However, the claim that Trump "violated" a ban is also misleading. There was no formal ban in place during Trump's presidency that he could have violated. The family separation policy was a deliberate strategy employed by the Trump administration as part of its broader immigration enforcement agenda (source). Therefore, the narrative that there was a ban that Trump violated does not hold up under scrutiny.
The sources used to support the claim do not provide evidence of a formal ban or a timeline extending to 2031. Instead, they highlight the ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to rectify the consequences of the previous policies and to promote family unity in immigration enforcement (source).
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that Biden's administration banned family separation until 2031 is misleading and inaccurate. There is no formal ban with such a timeline, and the assertion that Trump violated it is also incorrect, as there was no prior ban in place during his administration. The Biden administration is focused on reversing the harmful practices of the past, but this does not equate to a legislative ban on family separation.
