Many Americans are expressing shock at the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from their parents at the United States’ border with Mexico. But throughout U.S. history, officials have taken such action. Here are some examples:

Slave families were often separated in sale. Slave owners could sell slave children to anyone. Their parents had no legal rights to prevent their sale and could do little to stop them. Some slave families attempted to escape. But all faced severe punishment, even death, if captured.

Last week, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions used the Christian holy book, the Bible, to defend the policy of forced separation. He said, “I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order.”

That same passage was cited before the Civil War as a defense for separating slave children from their mothers.

Aliqismet BADALOV,
“Khalq qazeti”