Trump Shuts Down Government in Another Effort to Attack Immigrant Families, Putting Critical Programs at Risk for Communities Worldwide

WASHINGTON — Planned Parenthood issued the following statement condemning the Trump-Pence administration for shutting down the government, including critical programs, in an effort to fund a border wall designed to hurt immigrants and rip apart families. The federal government went into partial shutdown at midnight, and the lapse in funding will harm communities in the U.S. and around the world that already face discrimination and barriers to accessing health care and other critical services. Global health and humanitarian programs will be disrupted, putting at risk programs that save lives.

Statement from Dana Singiser, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

This is unconscionable behavior. Families deserve to stay together, and shouldn’t be endangered or used as pawns by President Trump’s racist, xenophobic attempts to build a border wall. President Trump and Republican leadership are playing politics with people’s lives by cutting off critical services to build a wall designed to rip families apart. Instead of taking necessary action to keep the government open, Republican leaders are instead allowing President Trump to continue his overall assault on immigrant families.

Since taking office, the Trump-Pence administration has pushed policy after policy that harm and endanger immigrants and asylum seekers, many of whom come to Planned Parenthood for health care. Planned Parenthood believes that immigrants – like all people – deserve dignity, respect, and the ability to live healthy and complete lives. We call on Republican leadership in Congress and the President to stop these political attacks on immigrant families and work together to serve the American people and reopen the government.

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.