Rally against splitting of migrant families held in Phoenix, as controversy mounts over new policy

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Reactions, including those from Governor Doug Ducey, are starting to come in on the issue of forced separation of migrant children and parents at the United States - Mexico border, amidst mounting controversy.

On Monday afternoon, activist group Puente Arizona held a rally in Phoenix on the controversial issue.



Children and parents with Puente kicked and destroyed a mock detention center that was meant to represent the detention centers where parents are being separated and held from their children, as they try to cross the border into the United States.

Also on Monday, FOX 10 spoke with a man who worked at a facility where some of the separated children are living. The former employee, who quit in protest, is now speaking out.

Antar Davidson, who worked at a facility in Tucson called Estrella Del Norte, said Trump's policy is not good for these kids.

"Kids will get scared of the dark," said Davidson, via a phone interview. "Imagine if you have just crossed through Guatemala on foot or train or car, and then taken from your mother. This is a deeply traumatizing event for anyone. It is a thing that is an irrevocable trauma we are placing on these people."

Davidson says immigration is a complicated problem. He does not support open borders, And he wishes he could tell Trump personally what's going on.

"There is not one policy that will fix the system in America," said Davidson. "It seems like I'm trying to vilify the president, that is not true. I would like to to work with him and work on solutions. I doubt he has heard this perspective."

Meanwhile, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, who is campaigning for re-election, dropped by the FOX 10 Studios on Monday, and was asked to weigh in.

"No one wants to see families separated," said Gov. Ducey. "President Trump said he doesn't want to see families separated, but we do want to see border security, and we do want to see legal migration."

The Governor, however, did not give a direct answer to the question of whether he supports Trump's policy or not.

On Monday afternoon, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) talked about the issue via a tweet made to his verified Twitter account.



Backers of the Trump policy say taking kids away from parents who are trying to enter the country illegally will keep people from trying to enter the country illegally. Opponents, meanwhile, call the practice immoral.