Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.
But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)
Republicans, Democrats & Even Melania Trump Condemn Trump Administration’s Immigration Policy
As reporters continue to visit and document the detention facilities hundreds of children are being held in, people on both sides of the political spectrum are calling for President Trump to stop separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Trump administration recently implemented a “zero-tolerance” immigration policy — which prosecutes everyone who crosses the border — and nearly 2,000 children have been separated from their parents in just six weeks. Many are living in cages. “One cage had 20 children inside,” the Associated Press reported. “Scattered about are bottles of water, bags of chips and large foil sheets intended to serve as blankets.”
Numerous Democratic lawmakers have spoken out and continue to to speak out against the separations. Some even visited the facilities over the weekend to protest. On Sunday night, Laura Bush, the last Republican first lady, penned an op-ed for The Washington Post calling Trump’s policy “cruel,” and “immoral.” Republican Senator Susan Collins also condemned the separations. “What the administration has decided to do is to separate children from their parents to try to send a message that, if you cross the border with children, your children are going to be ripped away from you,” she said on CBS’ Face the Nation. “That is traumatizing to the children, who are innocent victims. And it is contrary to our values in this country.”
Melania Trump even issued a statement saying she “hates to see children separated from their families,” however, she blamed “both sides of the aisle.” According to The New York Times, “By laying responsibility for the situation on ‘both sides,’ Mrs. Trump effectively echoed her husband’s assertion that it was the result of a law written by Democrats. In fact, the administration announced a ‘zero tolerance’ approach this spring, leading to the separations.”
The House is expected to take up immigration legislation this week.
Roger Stone Was Reportedly Offered “Dirt” On Clinton By Russia
Trump associate Roger Stone reportedly met with a Russian man offering damaging information about Hillary Clinton in May 2016, a new scoop from The Washington Post reported. The Russian — who called himself Henry Greenberg — apparently wanted $2 from Trump in exchange for the dirt. He also claimed to work as an FBI informant, though the Post said there’s “no evidence” that he was working with the bureau when speaking to Stone.
“Stone and Caputo’s interactions with Greenberg mean that at least 11 Trump associates or campaign officials have acknowledged interactions with a Russian during the election season or presidential transition,” the Post reported. Special Counsel Robert Mueller continues to investigate the possibility of Russian collusion in the 2016 election.
Teachers & Secretaries Are Having To Step In As Correctional Officers
The Trump administration wants to reduce the size of the government, and in their efforts to do so, have put off hiring more correctional officers for growing prisons. As a result, teachers, nurses, secretaries and other support staff are having to step in, a new report from The New York Times shows.
“When you’re an officer and in the units for eight hours a day, you get to know the inmates,” a teacher at a Florida prison told the Times. “You can tell when a fight is about to happen. I don’t have that background. The inmates see this and they know we are outnumbered. They know we have people working in the units who don’t have the slightest idea what to do.”
Just in the past year, the Bureau of Prisons reported an 8 percent rise in assaults on prison staff. One prison in West Virginia saw a 15 percent rise of violent incidents. Things aren’t expected to get better, either — especially since the inmate population is expected to grow by 2 percent this year and 1 percent next year. “People are going to get hurt,” one worker told the Times. “all because they want to save a little money.”
What to look out for…
This year’s MTV Movie & Television Awards! The show was filmed on Saturday, but airs tonight at 7/8 p.m. central.