![Sarah Sanders said: ‘I’m not aware of the attorney general’s comments or what he would be referencing, [but] I can say that it is very biblical to enforce the law.’](https://i0.wp.com/i.guim.co.uk/img/media/add7fb2c84d2942309f3d0769a69377d38745dae/0_151_3000_1800/master/3000.jpg?w=696&ssl=1)
Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, Sanders invoked the Bible to defend the Trump administration’s immigration policy of separating mothers from their children.
She was speaking at Thursday’s White House briefing, in response to a question about comments made by the attorney general Jeff Sessions, where he cited a passage in the Bible to justify the policy.
“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,” said Sessions.
He added: “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful.”
Sanders was asked about Sessions’ statement, and was challenged: “Where does it say in the Bible that’s moral to take children away from mothers?”
Pushing back, Sanders said: “I’m not aware of the attorney general’s comments or what he would be referencing, [but] I can say that it is very biblical to enforce the law. That is repeated throughout the Bible.”
The policy of separating undocumented parents from their children at the border was announced by Sessions in May as part of a “zero-tolerance policy”.
He said at the time: “If you are smuggling a child then we will prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you as required by law. If you don’t like that, then don’t smuggle children over our border.”
It has since met a wide range of criticism including from the United Nations human rights office as well as from prominent evangelical groups.
Sanders blamed congressional Democrats for the situation,…
