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What Trump’s Executive Order on Family Separation Actually Does -- And Doesn't Do nyti.ms/2I67SKh
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...which means Trump didn't really back down or retreat or get out-maneuvered at all. Rather, he used the separations to pressure Judge Gee (or Congress) to expand executive power to indefinitely detain entire families. If they don't, he can blame them when separations resume.
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In short, Trump wins either way. If Gee caves or Congress acts, his detention power expands, ending what he sees as an incentive encouraging families to migrate. If not, deterrent of separations resumes but he can say it's not his fault ("my exec order says this isn't my policy")

