List of celebs upset by U.S. border policy grows

Home > National >

print dictionary print

List of celebs upset by U.S. border policy grows

NEW YORK - Country music icon Willie Nelson has extended an offer to meet President Donald Trump at one of the detention centers at the U.S.-Mexico border to better understand what’s happening, the latest attempt by a celebrity hoping to end the administration’s policy of separating families at border crossings.

John Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, have raised $1 million and donated it to the American Civil Liberties Union. Ellen DeGeneres tweeted a link to groups fighting the policy. Kate Walsh has pleaded with critics to call their senators and demand a change. The home page for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” has included links for anyone wanting to help organizations such as Kids In Need Of Defense and Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services.

The separations stem from a policy that turns all cases of people trying to enter the country illegally over for criminal prosecution. Trump has defended the policy, which has taken nearly 2,000 immigrant children away from their parents.

Stars like Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Alyssa Milano, Mark Hamill, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Judd Apatow, Kumail Nanjiani, Piper Perabo and Common have denounced the policy. Oprah Winfrey wrote to her 42.7 million followers: “Babies torn from their parents. Can’t stand it!”

The appeals from celebrities come a few weeks after reality TV star Kim Kardashian West visited the White House to press her case to pardon a woman serving a life sentence for drug offenses. Trump later pardoned the woman.

A new avenue opened when “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane and then Apatow called on Fox TV show creators and stars to speak out against Fox News’ coverage of the border issue, which has tended to be supportive of Trump’s stance.

“Modern Family” co-creator Steve Levitan also weighed in, saying he was “disgusted to work at a company that has anything whatsoever to do with” Fox News.

AP
Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
help-image Social comment?
s
lock icon

To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.

Standards Board Policy (0/250자)