Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Friday there has to be a better way to enforce the nation's immigration laws than by separating illegal alien children from their parents when they arrive at the United States' border with Mexico.
Gonzales addressed the growing controversy regarding the practice during a CNN appearance.
"Listen, I like [Attorney General] Jeff Sessions. One of the things I admire about him is that he is a person of faith," said Gonzales, referencing Sessions' use of the Bible to help justify the policy.
"But let's face it: as attorney general, you take an oath to defend the laws and the Constitution of the United States, not to defend the Commandments in the Bible. As a general matter, there is discretion in the way our laws are enforced. We have to have secure borders, I think that's very, very important in a post-9/11 world. But surely, as a creative nation, we can come up with a better way of doing so without separating children from their parents. I think it's very unfortunate."
Gonzales is not alone in his criticism of how U.S. authorities are dealing with people who seek refuge at the border. Several members of Congress, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, are opposed to the current practice.
Gonzales, who led the Department of Justice from 2005-2007, praised the efforts of lawmakers on the issue.
"I'm delighted to see that Congress appears to be on track to pass legislation to deal with this in the way that it should be done, and that is through permanent legislation," he said.
Under a new "zero-tolerance" policy from the Trump administration, parents who are criminally charged with illegally entering the country are separated from their children while in custody. The children are usually released to other family members or foster care.
Sessions insists the policy of separating families is necessary to deter illegal border crossings. Authorities say the decision to send people to prison is a temporary one forced by a shortage of beds.
Lawmakers are considering ways to prevent family separations, although it's unclear what approach the compromise legislation in the House will take.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.