Governor Andrew Cuomo is suing the federal government over its controversial immigration policy.
He said 70 children are being held at facilities in New York after being separated from their parents.
“Now there’s been a lot of talk about the morality of this practice, but we also believe that this practice is illegal,” Cuomo said during a conference call.
The governor accused President Trump of using children as leverage to get a wall along the Mexican border.
"I am accustomed to all types of legislative negotiations. I have never seen children being used as a bargaining chip," Cuomo said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio could visit the border on Thursday as part of a group with the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
“We just have to do everything we can to stop it and that’s why mayors are stepping up. We’re going to do everything in our power to stop this and provide support to these families,” de Blasio said.
In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy has signed an executive order that prevents state resources from being used to enforce the policy separating kids from their parents. He called it “inhumane.”
“This has nothing to do with Congress or with Democrats or Republicans. This is a matter of human rights, human dignity and basic humanity,” Murphy said.
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