A few days ago the Trump administration argued in court that they do not mistreat children after they are separated from their family at the border and they had not violated the safe and sanitary conditions required for minors in custody. A previous court decision had found that the conditions under which children were held was in violation of the required standards.

US district judge Dolly Gee ruled in 2017 that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had breached the settlement by failing to provide some detainees with items such as soap, toothbrushes and towels, as well as adequate food and drinking water, according to Court House News.

She also said children were being deprived of bathroom access and adequate sleep, as well as living in sometimes near-freezing temperatures.

Lawyers for the Justice Department contend that the Trump administration is not in violation since the requirement set our by the Flores court order which merely requires safe and sanitary conditions but does not specify what conditions are needed. Things like a toothbrush, soap, towels, a reasonable temperature, or a bed are not needed since they are not specified in the court order.

It seems to me this is like saying if we signed agreement banning torture and that agreement did not specify that you cannot gouge out a prisoner’s eyes or put his arm in a wood chipper. We then claim that these actions are permissible since since they are not specifically enumerated in the agreement as prohibited actions.

But this type of behavior seems to be the new American standard. Is it the American way now to mistreat children? Taking children from their family seemed bad enough but more mistreatment of the children makes it worse.

Is this outrageous behavior just another Trump distraction?