The Trump administration’s policy of separating families after illegal border crossings is in the spotlight again this week with pressure being put on the president from all angles.

The “zero-tolerance” strategy introduced in April by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to increase prosecution of unauthorized immigrants resulted in at least 2,000 children being separated from their parents since the policy took effect.

Trump met with House Republicans on Tuesday amid complaints from lawmakers in both parties and public outrage in the form of protests, criticism from all five living current or former first ladies and increased interest in the conditions the children are living in.

As lawmakers look for legislative solutions, we wanted to get a better sense of where our congressional representatives stand on the issue. We sent the five members of San Diego County’s congressional delegation and California’s two senators the same set of questions on Tuesday.

What is your view of the unfolding situation with children of unauthorized immigrants being separated from their parents at the border?

Public discourse surrounding this issue has included comparisons to Nazi concentration camps and internment camps for U.S. citizens and noncitizens of Japanese descent during World War II. Is this appropriate?

What do you think of the Trump administration policy leading to such separations and how he has handled the last few weeks and days?

What are you doing about this?

What should Congress do about it?

Some responded with general statements on the issue, others replied to each question.

Here are the replies we’ve received so far. We’ll update this page with more answers as we get them.

Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego:

“There is no law requiring the separation of families. It is a policy choice, which can be ended today if the President wanted to stop it. Since this administration refuses to treat families humanely, Congress must step up and do the right thing. I am cosponsoring the Keep Families Together Act in the House which would prevent migrant families from being ripped apart.

“The United States should have a zero tolerance policy for the immoral treatment of children. As a social worker who practiced in medical and psychiatric settings, particularly focusing on children and families, I can say the profound trauma these children are experiencing could cause immediate and long-lasting damage to them.”

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine:

Hunter has not yet responded.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista:

Issa has not yet responded.

Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego

What is your view of the unfolding situation with children of unauthorized immigrants being separated from their parents at the border?

“Separating children from their parents is cruel, immoral, and un-American. It also goes against decades of immigration policies that kept families together and court rulings that established protections for children. As a parent, I can only imagine how devastating it would be to have my child taken away and yet, that’s exactly what we’re doing.

This policy abandons the fundamental values of our country, especially the institution of family, which shapes every aspect of our lives. We should be treating immigrant families with respect and dignity that demonstrates American values to the rest of the world. Tearing families apart as an immigration deterrent is repulsive, and it’s not American.”

Public discourse surrounding this issue has included comparisons to Nazi concentration camps and internment camps for U.S. citizens and noncitizens of Japanese descent during World War II. Is this appropriate?

“I believe that if we don’t act swiftly and forcefully to stop this, as with the Nazis and Japanese internment, in years to come, we will look back on ourselves with deep regret and sadness. History and our experience has taught us that we must intervene. They are also similar in that they are motivated by fear and xenophobia. No one should inflict or endure this kind of suffering based on race, religion, nation of origin, or any other discrimination.

America was founded as a place of refuge. This is about how we treat those seeking a better life, as our founders were.”

What do you think of the Trump administration policy leading to such separations and how he has handled the last few weeks and days?

“Most policy directives — if you can even call them that — from the White House are chaotic and meant to divide Americans. Once again, the president is resorting to extreme measures to get his border wall and using immigrant children as a bargaining chip. President Trump knows what he’s doing, but he likely doesn’t know, nor care, the extent to which his policies endanger immigrants.

The majority of Americans oppose family separation, but the President continues to listen to a small, extreme minority to justify his actions. This “zero tolerance policy” is a measured attack on immigrants because he has not gotten his ridiculous border wall.

Finally, the administration has stalled for months on the bipartisan proposals Congress has put forward to fix our immigration system — to address border security, Dreamers, and more. There is now a bill to address family separation. Yet, the president blames Democrats in Congress for his administration's decision. Unfortunately, Trump continues to spread false information in an attempt to get his border wall.”

What are you doing about this?

“I helped introduce the Keep Families Together Act, which prohibits Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials from separating children from their parents, except in extraordinary circumstances, like trafficking indicators or other concerns of risk to the child. It also requires DHS to develop policies and procedures allowing parents and children to locate each other and reunite if they have been separated. Congress would have oversight of implementation by requiring a report from DHS on the separation of families every six months to explain their reasoning for each case.

I’m also urging my Republican colleagues to support and help pass this bill. Truth and what is right always transcends party. There’s no question we need to be unified against this practice to stop it.”

What should Congress do about it?

“Congress needs to pass the Keep Families Together Act as soon as possible. It’s clear the Trump Administration has no intention of reversing this cruel policy — which they could with the stroke of a pen — so Congress needs to act.

On a larger scale, it is beyond time to debate and pass comprehensive immigration reform so we can address family separation, Dreamers, border security, and more.”

Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego

“Ripping children from the arms of their parents who are fleeing violence and seeking safety at the border is cruel, inhumane, and un-American. It is shameful that the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant policies have come to this.”

“Recently, I led a Congressional visit to various immigration detention centers in San Diego to witness first-hand the effects of President Trump’s family separation policy. No child should have to endure what these children are experiencing, and no parent should have their children ripped from their arms.”

“President Trump put this immoral policy in place, he has the power to end it—but his inaction speaks volumes. I cosponsored the Keep Families Together Act and I call on my Republican colleagues to join us in passing this legislation to stand up to this Administration and end this immorality.”

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-San Francisco

Feinstein has not yet responded.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-San Francisco

What is your view of the unfolding situation with children of unauthorized immigrants being separated from their parents at the border?

“This is a human rights abuse that is being committed by the United States government. Government should be in the business of keeping families together not tearing them apart. Actions by this Administration paint a constellation of attacks on women, children and families. They have issued a directive allowing for more detentions of pregnant women, turning away victims of domestic violence and asylum seekers, and ended DACA.”

Public discourse surrounding this issue has included comparisons to Nazi concentration camps and internment camps for U.S. citizens and noncitizens of Japanese descent during World War II. Is this appropriate?

“What is most inappropriate is this Administration’s inhumane policy of ripping parents from their children. It is not who we are as a country and violates our deepest shared values.”

What do you think of the Trump administration policy leading to such separations and how he has handled the last few weeks and days?

“President Trump is attempting to use this as leverage to force the government to spend billions in taxpayer money on a wasteful border wall and his anti-immigrant agenda. It is outrageous and immoral. It’s a false choice to suggest we either have to protect our border or snatch children from their parents and it’s misleading to the American public. With a phone call, the President could end this right now. He had claims to be against it, so stop separating children from their parents and stop criminalizing parents for doing what any parent would do, protect their children. It's his administration and he can stop this immediately.”

What are you doing about this?

“I worked with Senator Feinstein on legislation to keep families together, continuing to speak truth to this issue, visiting a detention facility and working on cases of mothers seeking asylum who were separated from their children.”

What should Congress do about it?

“This has got to be one of those moments where people take a hard look at themselves and asked themselves what is the right thing to do. Republicans and Democrats need to speak out against this policy and should all cosponsor the ‘Keep Families Together Act.’”