"If you don't want your child separated, then don't bring them across the border illegally"

The Trump Administration's decision to separate families coming to the U.S. border to seek asylum has prompted some questionable justification about the policy.

From claims stating there is a "right way" to seek asylum to claims parents broke the law by seeking asylum, many of the statements the administration has made are simply false.

This week we have two goals: debunking misconceptions about asylum seekers, and hitting our goal of raising 300 grassroots donations to ensure that there are people in Congress ready to stand up against these policies.

Claim: "If you don't want your child separated, then don't bring them across the border illegally." — Attorney General Sessions

Fact: The U.S. government has an obligation to allow asylum seekers to come in at official ports of entry.

• The U.S. government is prohibited under international law from turning away people with legitimate humanitarian claims. The Refugee Act of 1980 says the U.S. cannot send asylum seekers back to countries where their lives are in danger.

Claim: "We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period." — Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen.

Fact: Data from the Department of Homeland Security paints a different picture.

• According to Department of Homeland Security, 2,342 children have been separated from adults at the U.S. border between May 5 and June 9.

We need to ensure that claims like these do not become the dominant narrative. They are against our Pacific Northwest values and I will not stand for it. Chip in right now and help us achieve our goal of 300 grassroots donations.

Rick