Dem Sen. Blumenthal Asks Kristi Noem to Ignore 300,000 Children that Went Missing During the Biden Admin and Focus on 1000 Separated Under Trump

BLUMENTHAL: “I want to call your attention to an effort that I’ve led to help reunite children with their parents, children who were separated as a result of the so-called family separation policy in the last administration. I have introduced a measure called keep families together, not only to limit separation of families at or near ports of entry, but also the Families Belong Together Act for several congresses to help bring the children, the kids who were victims of this policy and who still are not back with their parents. I hope that you will support that kind of effort.”
NOEM: “Senator, the Trump Administration never had a family separation policy. They had a zero tolerance policy which said that our laws would be followed. What I’m alarmed by is the over 300,000 children that went missing during the Biden Administration. And when we talk about children and what they’re potentially facing as far as victimization in this country and the trafficking that’s going on, this administration’s lack of desire to find out where those children are or what they may be going through is alarming to me. So I want to stop that.” [crosstalk]
BLUMENTHAL: “Well, because my time is expiring, I’m just going to interrupt again with apologies to say let’s put aside.”
NOEM: “Well, I can’t put aside 340,000 children.”
BLUMENTHAL: “Let’s put — let’s put aside the labels. Let’s put aside what happened in the past. There are still 1,000 children who are separated and waiting to be reunited. I’d like your commitment that you’re going to continue the effort to reunite them with their parents.”
NOEM: “Senator, keeping families together is critically important to me and to this country. I’m concerned about Laken Riley’s family, that they no longer have her. I’m concerned about the fact that — that we have people in this country that don’t know where their children are or people in other countries who sent their children here and they’ve been lost by this administration. So, yes, my focus will be to keep families together. We will uphold our law and we’ll make sure that we’re doing everything we can to keep our children safe from the trafficking and the drug epidemic that’s hit this country.”
BLUMENTHAL: “I’m going to end on an optimistic note and say I take that as a yes.”
NOEM: “Yeah.”
BLUMENTHAL: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”