Senate Democrat releasing book on Trump admin’s treatment of migrants at border

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) is releasing a book on the treatment of refugees at the border next month, his publisher announced Tuesday.

Titled “America Is Better Than This: Trump’s War Against Migrant Families,” the book is described by Grand Central Publishing as a “cry of outrage at the cruelty and chaos the Trump administration has wrought at the border.”

{mosads}The book specifically focuses on the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy, which resulted in family separations, and child detention facilities near the border.

The book will be released Aug. 20.

Merkley made headlines when he traveled to Texas in 2018 and livestreamed his efforts to gain access to a border detention facility.

An outspoken critic of the administration’s immigration policies, the Oregon lawmaker introduced the Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act last year.

The book release announcement comes amid growing scrutiny of the treatment of migrants entering the U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General recently released two reports detailing conditions in El Paso, Texas, and Rio Grande, Texas, facilities. The government watchdog found severe overcrowding, migrants being held too long and dirty conditions at many of the facilities.

Delegations of Democratic lawmakers visited facilities in Texas and Florida last week, blasting the inhumane conditions they saw.

The administration has largely deflected the criticism, saying stemming the flow of immigrants is a priority.