Washington, D.C. — Earlier this afternoon, new reports revealed that the White House is considering resuming the separation of families seeking safety at the U.S. southern border. According to news accounts, this new plan could also combine both family separation and family detention in what is called a “binary choice.”

In response to late breaking news, Michelle Brané, director of the Migrant Rights and Justice program at the Women’s Refugee Commission, issued the following statement:

“No one should be surprised by how low this administration will sink in its efforts to attack migrant and refugee families. This is the latest effort in a campaign of chaos launched by the Trump administration in April under its ‘zero tolerance policy.’ Let’s be clear – this is about deterring families from seeking safety at our border – that includes women and children fleeing danger and violence in their home countries.

“This latest attack on asylum-seeking families is a violation of their human rights and runs counter to the American tradition of providing protection to those in fleeing persecution. The government knows full well that there are proven, cost-efficient, and compassionate programs to manage families seeking safety at our borders that would avoid both separating or jailing families. Living a life free of violence is a basic right for everyone. The Trump administration is hell-bent on destroying the lives of parents and the futures for their children. We will not stop fighting this barbaric policy until those that seek asylum – which is their legal right – can do so free from threats and coercion.”