Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Trump Defiant as Outrage Grows Over Separating Families; Merkel Says Europe Needs Coordinated Approach to Migration; Trade War Fears Send Markets Tumbling; Israel Responds to Flaming Kits; Chinese Demand for Ivory Spurs Poaching of Elephants; Egypt Takes on Russia in World Cup; Japan Beats Columbia 2-1. Aired 11a-12n ET
Aired June 19, 2018 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00] IVAN WATSON, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Ivan Watson at CNN Center filling in for Becky Anderson.
A meeting on Capitol Hill today could help stem the outcry over a policy that Donald Trump says he hates but does not want to own. The U.S.
President will meet with Republicans to discuss the forced separation of undocumented children from their parents at U.S. borders. Some 2,000 over
the past six weeks. Mr. Trump could change the policy with a simple phone call, but he's blaming Democrats and demanding Congress fix the problem.
Many Americans are appalled at the sight of children in holding cages, but much of Mr. Trump's base supports the detentions and the President is
doubling down. He just tweeted that Democrats don't care about crime and want illegal immigrants to, quote, pour into and infest our country like
MS-13, a reference there to a notorious gang. But the White House is also well aware this has become a public relations disaster. It is distributing
talking points to the offices of congressional Republicans as a guide to containing the fallout. CNN's Abby Phillip has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States will not be a migrant camp, and it will not be a refugee holding facility.
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Trump administration digging in and defending its controversial practice of
separating children from their families at the border.
KIRSTJEN NIELSEN, U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Parents who entered illegally are, by definition, criminals. By entering our country
illegally, often in dangerous circumstances, illegal immigrants have put their children at risk.
PHILLIP: Pressure to end the practice intensifying after the release of audio obtained by ProPublica where children are heard sobbing and begging
for their parents.
CHILD: Daddy! Daddy!
CHILD: Mommy.
(Children crying)
PHILLIP: Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson insisting the children are being taken care of.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: How could this not be child abuse for the people that are taken from their parents, not the ones sent here with their
parents blessing with a smuggler, the people were taken from their parents.
NIELSON: Unfortunately, I'm not in any position to deal with, you know, hearsay stories.
PHILLIP: Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, admitting that the practice is meant to deter other undocumented immigrants.
JEFF SESSIONS, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Yes, hopefully will get the message and come through the border at the port of the entry and not break across
the border unlawfully.
PHILLIP: But hours earlier Secretary Nielson balked at the suggestion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Are you intending for parents to be separated from their children? Are you intending to send a message?
NIELSON: I find that offensive. No. Because why would I ever create a policy that purposefully does that?
PHILLIP: White House officials continuing to falsely insist that family separations are required under the law as President Trump attempts to use
the issue to pressure Democrats into backing Republican immigration legislation.
TRUMP: I say it's very strongly the Democrats' fault. It can be taken care of quickly, beautifully and we'll have safety.
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D), CALIFORNIA: This is not something that just happened to them. This has been a plan. And they're implementing the
plan. They're enforcing the plan, and it is wrong.
PHILLIP: On Capitol Hill a growing number of Republicans are joining Democrats in urging the administration to end family separations.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: All of us who are seeing these images of children being pulled away from moms and dads in tears were horrified.
This has to stop.
PHILLIP: In the Senate, Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Dianne Feinstein announcing bills to keep families together. The House is expected to vote
on two immigration bills on Thursday that contains language to address family separations. But the outlook for both bills appears far from
certain.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATSON: Antar Davidson, he was a worker at a shelter for young immigrants in Arizona and he says he just quit just last week. He says the children
who began coming into the center in the wake of the zero-tolerance policy are much more stressed.
[11:05:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTAR DAVIDSON, FORMER SHELTER EMPLOYEE: Well, prior to the zero-tolerance policy, the kids were a lot better -- it was a lot better behaved. The
kids that came were prepared for the journey. They came knowing prior that they would spend some time in the shelter and then they would ultimately be
reunified. So, for that reason they were much more calm. In the past six weeks, however, the kids were not those kids. It was not the same
population. There began to show up kids that did not have being in the shelter in mind. They didn't know what was happening. There were kids who
had just been ripped from their parents and so for that reason were extremely distressed and showing a lot of traumatized behavior, symptoms of
trauma.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, he has cited the bible to defend the practice of separating families at the border. Now a bipartisan
group of former U.S. attorneys call it a radical departure from previous U.S. policy, and they're calling on sessions to stop it.
In an open letter they write, quote, your zero-tolerance policy has produced a tragic and unsustainable result, without taking into account
each families' specific circumstances. Under your policy, families and children are greeted with unexpected cruelty at the doorstep of the United
States, instead of with relief or asylum in the greatest country of the world. Until now no Republican or Democratic administration, nor any prior
Attorney General has endangered children in order to deter illegal entry.
Now, some Americans are taking to the streets to voice their outrage over the forced separation of families. Several protests are taking place
today, including this one in Washington. Those are live images right now of demonstrators gathered for a vigil outside the headquarters of the U.S.
immigrations and customs enforcement agency.
For critics, separating children from their parents is bad enough. But remarkably, according to the "New Yorker" magazine, the government has no
protocols in place for keeping parents and children in contact with each other while they're separated or for eventually reuniting them.
All right. So, let's go now live to Abby Phillip at the White House for more on this immigration crisis. You know, Abby, good to see you. We seem
to be getting mixed messages from different members of the Trump administration whether this zero-tolerance and the family separation is
meant as a warning to deter illegal immigration or whether it's the fault of the Democrats as President Trump has argued. Is this difference of kind
of message a result of disorganization or disagreement between different members of the administration?
PHILLIP: Well, clearly, Ivan, there is disagreement within this administration about how to talk about this policy publicly. There are
some people within the Trump administration who insist, like the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, that this is not a policy
at all and it is not a deterrent. That all they are doing simply is enforcing the law that requires them to charge people crossing the border
illegally with a crime. Now, at the same time, other officials like Attorney General Jeff Sessions have said the exact opposite, that this is a
policy that he put in place, zero tolerance back in April. It is a policy that's been discussed by the administration for a year now and one that he
said he hopes will deter parents from making this journey with their children.
As recently as just a few minutes ago, the White House held a call about this issue and officials on that call called it a new policy saying they
were still working out some kinks in the process trying to figure out how to reunite parents and children. How they also said that it is a deterrent
that they're hoping that it would stop parents from making this journey altogether. So, differences of opinion about how to do this and it
reflects the underlying problem here. Which is that there are some people in this White House and also a lot of Republicans here in Washington who
frankly believe that this policy is a bad idea. It's one that is bad optics and also one that a lot of Republicans have called inhumane and un-
American. There's a dispute about whether it is worth doing it in order to achieve the President's immigration rules.
WATSON: And I'm sure you'll be following closely his upcoming meeting with lawmakers. That's Abby Phillip live from the White House. Thank you very
much, Abby.
Now, amid this firestorm of controversy, President Trump is once again defending his immigration policy at home by singling out Germany's migrant
crisis as an example of what he's trying to avoid.
[11:10:00] Not long ago he tweeted, quote, crime in Germany is up 10 percent plus. Officials do not want to report these crimes since migrants
were accepted. Other countries are even worse. Be smart, America.
Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel is trying to find a solution to Europe's migration troubles. She's been given just two weeks to hash out
changes to the continent's immigration policy or her job could be on the line. Now she's looking to France for help. Mrs. Merkel and French
President, Emmanuel Macron are meeting in Germany today for what's being called a moment of truth for Europe. CNN's Atika Shubert joins us now from
Berlin. And Atika, I understand that Mrs. Merkel has just been speaking from her meeting with the French President. Is she going to be bringing
some tougher immigration measures to Germany and Europe as a whole?
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's her mission over the next two weeks. She's been given a deadline by her
political partners in the coalition until July 1st to toughen up immigration laws in Germany. The problem is she's going to need not only
France's help but also Italy, Greece and other countries at the external borders of the EU.
So far, we've been listening to them talk and they're talking a lot of politics. Basically, saying there needs to be a lot of solidarity, that
yes, they have to strengthen the borders of the EU. Yes, they will take a look at perhaps funding more for Frontex, the border patrol of the EU.
And, yes, there should be getter distribution of refugees. But there hasn't been a concrete explanation of what the new policy in the EU is
going to be or how they're going to achieve it. So, it sounds like they are embarking on this and perhaps there is a lot of political will, but
it's going to take more than just France and Germany to come up with an EU wide policy. So, I think what they're trying to show today is they are on
the same wavelength. That they have certain things they agree on, strengthening the external bordered, making sure there is fair distribution
of refugees. But they are a little short on details on how they are going to achieve this.
WATSON: While Angela Merkel is under pressure from the right at home, she's also taking fire from President Trump, who is supposed to be her
ally. Many Germans aren't too pleased with President Trump weighing in on the country's migrant process. Former German ambassador to the U.S.,
Wolfgang Ischinger. He tweeted this, quote, and what would be the result if we compared percentages of people in prison, U.S. and Germany? Mr.
President, please try to think before you tweet or simply just stop tweeting. You would serve your country much better.
What other kind of reaction have we heard from German officials to the U.S. President who, again, is supposed to be an ally of Angela Merkel?
SHUBERT: Yes, supposed to be an ally but for quite a few politicians here, they feel like the U.S. President is attacking Germany at its weakest
point, this issue of immigration which does threaten the unity of the European Union. Just to give you an example to how some people reacted to
the previous tweet from Donald Trump, this came from the Social Democrats, Ralf Stegner, saying, it's always the same nonsense from this weird man in
the White House.
And then you got a very tongue and cheek reply from the Christian Democrats politician Johann Wadephul, who said, and the earth is flat, and Kim Jong-
un is a great leader.
So, these are the kind of responses you get, some very funny, some angered. But nobody seems particularly happy with these tweets coming from Donald
Trump. And he's done it again today. You just mentioned that tweet where he said that crime is up 10 percent in Germany. The President actually has
it completely wrong. In 2017 the federal police said that crime is down 10 percent. So, I'm not sure exactly where President Trump is getting his
statistics from, but he might want to talk to the federal police here in Germany.
WATSON: Yes, and that's the second day in a row he has alleged or claimed that crime is up in Germany. Atika Shubert, live from Berlin, thank you
very, very much.
Still to come, it's his third visit to China in as many months. What is the North Korean leader doing in Beijing? Find out next.
Plus, another World Cup upset. With the first time a team from Asia has beaten one from football powerhouse, South America. And the game had the
first red card of this cup as well. It was all go, go, go. We'll tell you all about it just ahead.
[11:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WATSON: You're watching CNN, and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Welcome back. I'm Ivan Watson filling in for Becky Anderson.
North Korea's leader, he's traveling again. This time Kim Jong-un is in China to brief President Xi Jinping on his meeting with U.S. President
Donald Trump. China has largely supported the talks, especially since Mr. Trump announced the suspension of military exercises with South Korea. But
Beijing is increasingly frustrated with the United States' latest trade threat. China says it will strike back hard should the U.S. President
impose tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of goods.
CNN's Matt Rivers is in Beijing late at night following both of these developing stories. Thanks for joining, Matt. Let's start with North
Korea. I mean, the third trip that Kim Jong-un is now making to China in just three months when you consider he was in office for some six years and
he never made a trip across North Korea's borders. What is this all about?
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, it's interesting you bring that up, Ivan. Because you know, six months ago if you and I were talking
-- in fact we probably were talking six months ago -- about the unlikelihood that Kim Jong-un could be traveling around the world. Could
be playing the role of diplomat. It wasn't that long ago that we were talking about the threat of nuclear war. And now somehow in a short matter
of three months or so, it has somehow become normalized in a way. That Kim Jong-un is expected to go meet with world leaders. This is the third time
he's been in China since the end of March alone. It's the second time he's been in Beijing. And so, when we saw those scenes here in Beijing, it kind
of felt like deja vu, because it wasn't long ago that he did the same thing when he met Xi Jinping for the first time.
This time, of course, is a little bit different, Ivan. Because this is the first trip that he's made here since that summit happened. And so, that's
going to be high on their list of things to talk about. What did they talk about, Donald Trump in Kim Jong-un? What was in the declaration? What
wasn't? Maybe what North Korea's definition of denuclearization actually is. But I think the other take away here is this shows you that China will
play a role in these negotiations going forward. Not only did they play a role before the summit but now if there was any question there isn't
anymore, they will play a role moving forward.
All right, Matt Rivers, we're going to have to leave that there. Thank you very much for the update from Beijing.
And let's move now to the fear of a full-blown U.S. trade war with China which appears to be spooking the markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average
opened down more than 300 points and it's currently down, let's see, about 314 points, it looks like. Other world markets also posted sharp declines.
Now, CNNMoney correspondent, Maggie Lake, she joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange. Good to see you, Maggie. This is basically all
related to anxiety over the threats and now the imposition of tariffs between the world's two largest economies, right?
[11:20:07] MAGGIE LAKE, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT: That's right. In the beginning of this chapter between the two countries, I think a lot of
investors and analysts were hoping that this was rhetoric. And that after the first volley, the two countries would find some kind some common
ground. That has not happened. The numbers are getting larger, the rhetoric is getting more heated and investors are getting more concerned
that this is going to have a damaging impact on profit margins and the global economy.
I want to point out, we were down as much as 400. We've come off of those lows and are kind of hovering right here. There is an acknowledgment that
the Trump administration can turn on a dime. We've seen it happen in North Korea. It could happen here in trade, but right now, investors don't like
the path we're on. Certainly, you can see that play out in Asia, China's an export economy. A lot of companies there export. That is where they
get their revenues. So, there's a lot of concern about what this will do to the global economy.
Interestingly, the U.S. administration not backing down at all. We've been hearing Matt all day talk about the fact the Chinese are very angry,
they're calling this blackmail. They're saying they're going to respond. Just moments ago, the White House defending tariffs. Peter Navarro, the
Trump administration's director of the National Trade Council, saying, Chinese tariffs against U.S. are unjustified. Trump's actions are
visionary, and he's demonstrated a special kind of courage notably absent in his predecessor. They are making a calculated bet this is going to hurt
China more than the U.S. We'll see how that plays out, but certainly investors sending a message that they are comfortable with the direction
this is moving in -- Ivan.
WATSON: And Maggie, you know, the Chinese Commerce Ministry, they came out with statements over the last night accusing the U.S. of extortionist
behavior and saying, quote, if the U.S. loses its senses and comes up with a new list of things to tariff, China will be forced to strike back hard.
Amid this kind of escalating rhetoric, do you see any possible exit ramp? Any way to kind of deescalate to avoid a growing trade war?
LAKE: We've been asking a lot of experts that. The further we go down this road, Ivan, the more they become concerned of a policy blunder or
unintended consequences. But certainly, at any point these two nations can get together, the leaders, and decide to make progress. The Trump
administration is making very clear that there are two areas. They're focused on the overall deficit, but they are increasingly also focused on
these issues of intellectual property of a lot of the concern about technology, about theft.
And you saw congress move on ZTE to reimpose some of those sanctions on ZTE, even though President Trump looked to ease them. So, there's concern
on both of those fronts. Can they get together? It's going to have to happen at a very high level. But right now, the odds -- they seem far
apart the two sides. And again, I think that's why today you're seeing the market reaction. Other days they seem put it in the rhetoric box. They
are getting more concerned today. I think everyone is hoping they come together but right now not clear how or when that happens.
WATSON: All right. Maggie Lake, live from the New York Stock Exchange. Thanks very much.
Let's turn our attention now to the Middle East where kites, that's the children toys, are now being used as low-tech weapons. The Israeli
military says it has struck nine targets in northern Gaza after Palestinians started flying kites and balloons with incendiary devices
attached over the border into Israel. These are the latest developments in a months-long protest along the fence, separating Gaza from Israel. CNN's
Ian Lee reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A brushfire scorches a forest in southern Israel. Firefighters battle the blaze, but no matter how hard
they try, they can't extinguish the cause. Hundreds of kites and balloons from Gaza that carry this firestorm.
(on camera): Fires like these have caused over two million dollars in damages. And when I speak to firefighters say that number is likely to
rise as they battle between 20 to 30 blazes a day.
(voice-over): Nearby farmers work the field. They keep a wary eye. Hundreds of acres of farmland have been reduced to ash. So far no one has
been hurt.
ALI ELI, ISRAELI FARMER (through translator): You need to keep alert. The fire could pop without you knowing. If you tracked a stall to the middle
of a straw field, you can be burned to death or suffocate from the smoke.
LEE: Israel recently retaliated against what they call, terror kites and balloons. With the Air Force striking nine targets in Gaza.
AVIGDOR LIBERMAN, ISRAELI MINISTER OF DEFENSE (through translator): If anyone believes that this daily routine of kites and fires in the South of
Israel is just going to keep happening, they are wrong.
LEE: The kites will continue. At least that's what Gazans say. It doesn't take much. Some sticks and plastic then a bag of dried plants and
coal. A low-tech weapon challenging Israel's high-tech defenses.
[11:25:00] They're part of a larger month-long protest movement along the border with Israel in which over a hundred of Palestinians have been killed
and thousands injured.
PALESTINIAN KITE MAKER (through translator): My message to Israel is stop threatening protesters and kite makers because no matter what you do, even
if you target us with rockets, we will not stop. Our protest is peaceful.
LEE: When the kites are ready, the wind drifts them across into Israel. Kamikaze drones try to knock them down with limited success.
(on camera): In this is where Gazans hope these kites land here in dry fields that can quickly turn into a brush fire. Raining fire from above,
all the while stoking tensions along the fence dividing Gaza and Israel. Ian Lee, CNN in Kisufim, Israel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATSON: Just ahead, we'll have a live report from the U.S.-Mexico border for more on the battle on immigration and the children caught in the
middle. Stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WATSON: You're watching CNN, and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Welcome back to the program.
Let's return now to that crisis at the U.S. border. Images like these are fueling outrage in America over the forced separation of undocumented
families. President Donald Trump could change his administration's zero tolerance policy with a phone call or a stroke of the pen.
[11:30:00] But he's instead blaming Democrats and says congress must fix the problem. Mr. Trump will meet with congressional Republicans a few
hours from now. But for now, let's go to CNN's Nic Valencia. He's outside a childcare facility in Brownsville, Texas. Good to see you, Nick. We're
getting wildly divergent descriptions of conditions at centers like the one you're standing in front of with defenders of the zero-tolerance policy
arguing, it's like summer camp for the kids. And critics saying this is child abuse. You are putting children in cages. What are you hearing?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Those who defend this, Ivan, and equate these childcare centers to summer camps, I'm not quite sure what kind of
summer camps they've ever been to. But the children in this facility, like the one that's behind me, they aren't allowed to leave. They get to go
outside two hours a day. They're put in pens that effectively look like cages. And for all intents and purposes, they are detention facilities.
All of this as we're getting more heart-breaking stories, gut wrenching audio released by an investigative nonprofit called ProPublica, which they
say was taken last week along the U.S.-Mexico border. Audio that is just gut wrenching. It is the sounds of children as young as four years old
immediately after they have been separated by their families. These are children, Ivan, who escape Central America. They had no other choice.
They were faced with the choice of life or death. And they arrived on the US-Mexico border seeking asylum. And because of this zero-tolerance policy
enacted by President Trump and his administration, this is what the consequence is. This is what has resulted. We have to warn you the audio
you are about to hear is disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORDER PATROL AGENT (translated text): Where are you from?
CHILD (translated text): Guatemala.
BORDER PATROL AGENT: And you?
CHILD (through translator): Guatemala.
BORDER PATROL AGENT: Don't cry.
CHILD: I want to go with my aunt.
BORDER PATROL AGENT: You're going to get there. Look, she will explain it and help you.
CHILD: Dad!
CONSULAR WORKER (translated text): I'm going to take you to speak to the person from your consulate, OK?
CHILD (Crying): Dad!
CHILD: At least can I go with my aunt? I want her to come so she can take me to her house.
BORDER PATROL AGENT: She'll help you call your aunt, if you have the number, so that you can talk to your aunt.
CHILD: I have her number.
BORDER PATROL AGENT: OK, so she'll help you right now, so you can talk to her.
CHILD: Dad!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VALENCIA: We have tried to independently verify that audio. We've reached out to border parole as well as the White House. We still have not reached
comment back. Meanwhile, were getting new poll numbers as well, that show that a majority of Americans, two thirds of Americans, disagree and
disapprove of President Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy. He has said that this is a result of Democrats not being tough enough on border
security. But here the congressman in this district, the Democratic Congressman that I've spoken to, said it is disingenuous for the President
to suggest that. He's saying that he's turning the American dream into the American nightmare -- Ivan.
WATSON: Well, that poll shows, Nick, that the majority of Americans surveys disagree with this. I think the same poll shows the majority of
registered Republicans surveyed do support this policy. I wondered if you would help me out with one other detail here. I've read and heard accounts
that the personnel in these -- let's call them what they are -- child detention centers are not allowed to touch children who have been separated
from their families. Little kids can't hold their hand or embrace them. Is there any truth to that?
VALENCIA: Well, we've heard earlier this morning from my colleague, Rosa Flores, who said, that the children are getting care and that the
caregivers are in some cases hugging these children. But what we're hearing the stories from those that have gone inside these facilities, one
of them we learned about where children younger than 10 years old are being take here in Brownsville. It's heart-breaking.
I've talked to a Democratic Congressman here, Congressman Vela, whose district this is, he says he saw a child as young as five years old. He
even saw, in probably the most chilling detail, rooms for toddlers which he says shows that these facilities are expecting babies. Children younger
than one years old being separated from their families. Of course, DHS has denied that it's part of their policy. They say that babies are not
separated. But according to this Democratic Congressman who had a tour of this facility yesterday, he said these facilities appear to be preparing
for just that -- Ivan.
WATSON: All right. Nick Valencia live from Texas in front of one of those child detention centers. Thank you very much, Nick.
All right. We will go down to Sarah Pierce. She is an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute and a former immigration lawyer. She joins us
from Washington. Thank you, Sarah. The White House, it says it's trying to close legal loopholes and in a new statement it says, quote, many aliens
who reach our borders are released into our country after being apprehended, encouraging more illegal immigration. Smugglers and human
traffics understand and have exploited these loopholes.
[11:35:05] How do you respond to this argument coming from the White House?
SARAH PIERCE, ANALYST, MIGRATION POLICY INSTITUTE: I think it's an extremely misleading argument. In reality when individuals are apprehended
at our southern border and don't have authorization to enter, they are placed into expedited removal proceedings and deported from the country.
The only people who are able to get out of those proceedings and enter the country are unaccompanied child migrants, children who arrive without any
adult or any parent or asylum seekers who are able to pass a credible fear determination. Determining that they do have a legitimate claim at asylum.
WATSON: Can you help me out with this? Some 2,000 estimated children have been separated from their families in just the last six weeks. What is the
plan for their future? How long can they be held in these centers? And when could they possibly be reunited with their families?
PIERCE: I think that's one of the most disturbing things about the implementation of this policy is it's been implemented quite thoughtlessly.
There's been nothing released from the administration that shows any plan or any forethought into how these children could possibly be reunited with
their families. The children are being reclassified as unaccompanied child migrants. That population I referenced earlier that usually arrives at the
border without any parents. That system for unaccompanied child migrants is quite robust and entails the children being transferred to the custody
of the office of refugee reassessment and then placed in shelters or ideally with sponsors throughout the United States while they're placed in
long-term immigration court proceedings. Which I'm sure, as you know, immigration court is very backlogged. So, those proceedings last for
years.
As of right now, we haven't heard anything from the administration on how those children, now separate immigration cases, could possibly be linked
back up with their parents. Their parents are likely going to be placed into expedited removal after going through the criminal prosecution. And
in expedited removal most of them will be deported within a few days. So, we have these parents and children being placed in very separate
immigration court proceedings. And as far as we can see there's no plan for how they could possibly be linked back up.
WATSON: So, this is a case of imposing a new policy, but not having any way of resolving it and kind of the consequences it creates. Sarah,
according to the White House, the phenomenon of unaccompanied alien children as they describe it, UAC, is quite large. With the White House
citing a number of about 110,000 unaccompanied alien children who were released into the U.S. since the beginning of 2016. So, this is a new
phenomenon that's part of a much bigger trend of children coming across the border and the authorities, I guess, trying to figure out what to do with
them.
PIERCE: Right. I mean, I think the large phenomenon that we're seeing is are individuals trying to escape dangerous conditions in Central America.
Those conditions have driven up unaccompanied child migrants as well as families and other asylum-seekers who are now approaching our southern
border. And, yes, unaccompanied children migrants are a big part of that. We especially saw that in 2014 during the Obama administration when there
was a real surge of unaccompanied child migrants at our southern border.
In 2008 Congress passed a specific piece of legislation designed to protect these children, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. And that is the
act that rules that system that I mentioned earlier, in which the children are transferred to the custody of the office of refugee resettlement while
their long-term immigration cases are pending. And they're given the opportunity to apply for asylum or other types of immigration benefits to
which they might qualify.
WATSON: All right. Sarah Pierce of the Migration Policy Institute, thanks for coming on to the program. Appreciate it.
PIERCE: Thank you for having me.
WATSON: Coming up, it may be the last chance to save elephants from extinction from ivory poachers. But cash from China is fueling the trade.
A CNN exclusive from Mozambique coming up next.
[11:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WATSON: You're watching CNN, and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Welcome back.
Despite bans, protests and outrage around the world, the ivory trade is still alive and well. And now African elephants are being pushed closer to
the brink of extinction. Many countries including the U.S. and China have banned ivory sales. But a steady flow of Chinese cash has kept poachers in
business. In a CNN exclusive, our David McKenzie traveled to the Niassa Reserve in Mozambique, the new epicenter of poaching in Africa.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just a few remaining villages before the remoteness takes hold.
PHILIP MCLELLAN, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY: I think, you know, it's one of the last great wildernesses, and this really needs to be protected.
MCKENZIE: From the plane, Niassa Reserve seems untouched by man's greed.
MCLELLAN: I'm looking for elephant number 30. We're sort of approaching her last known track.
MCKENZIE: But even with the help of GPS, we struggle to find a single herd.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you see?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An elephant, yes, I got one, I got one.
MCKENZIE: Just like the rest of Africa, here, too, the poachers have found a way in.
(on camera): What's happened to the herds?
MCLELLAN: They've been decimated by poaching.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): This should be upwards of 10,000 elephants in this reserve. He estimates there are less than 2,000 left.
MCLELLAN: Just flying over what used to be bountiful countryside, you're now struggling to find animals.
MCKENZIE: A Chinese government ban on ivory has been heralded as the key to saving the species. The world's largest market should now be off
limits, but here conservationists say the slaughter continues.
We were in the bush when we found a group of elephants, he says. I shot the first one, and then I shot the second one. We were about to remove the
ivory when security officials arrived to apprehend us.
Inside a prison yard, this poacher speaks freely. He's agreed to talk to us, because he wants people to know.
I had nothing else I could do, he says. This is the only way. He says the demand for ivory hasn't diminished. Who then, are the buyers?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Chinese have become strong. I think they've bought their way in here, and they have protection.
MCKENZIE: This investigator is actively tracking poaching syndicates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They know how to get things out.
MCKENZIE: So, we're protecting his identity. Despite the ban, he says the Chinese continue to control the market.
(on camera): What does that mean for conservation?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very, very bad. Very bad. If it continues like that in Niassa, there will be nothing left.
MCKENZIE: And are the Chinese to blame for this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, 100 percent. 100 percent.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): We wanted to see for ourselves. Using a hidden camera, we follow an investigator as he posed as an ivory middleman at the
main Chinese trading center he was invited into. It was remarkably easy to get them interested.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (translated text): Can you get 10 meters?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 10 meters, yes.
MCKENZIE: But then China is mentioned.
[11:50:00] 11:45:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't take it there. But it is possible to get it through customs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a crime.
MCKENZIE: It could be a negotiating technique. Drive up the risk to drive down the price, or perhaps the ban's message has made it to Mozambique's
Chinese traders. But a massive bust by authorities in Maputo would show otherwise. In mid-April, more than three tons of ivory was confiscated.
Police say the container is linked to a Chinese trading company. The suspects fled, and the investigation continues.
MCKENZIE (on camera): Why have there not been prosecution of Chinese nationals in Mozambique?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That one is now the problem, the biggest problem. I think they are buying their way out.
MCKENZIE: Corruption?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Corruption. Corruption.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): These photos show ammunition still wrapped in government- issued packaging. The poachers caught wearing all too familiar
fatigues of the national army. The rot runs deep. Just listen to the government's own prosecutor.
We have no doubt about that, he says. Corruption is at the source of poaching. But, he says, there's a commitment by the state to prevent it.
MCLELLAN: I don't believe that it's too late. No. I'm an optimist, and I believe that there are elephants out there in little pockets that we
haven't seen. And they will come together and breed and come back strongly.
MCKENZIE: But their population has reached a critical point. And unless China's ivory ban is felt here, this Eden could be emptied. David
McKenzie, CNN Niassa Reserve, Mozambique.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And if you want to look for ways you can help elephants and endangered wildlife you can visit CNN.com/impact and look for the link to the Wildlife
Conservation Society.
We're going to take a quick break now, but we will be right back very soon.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WATSON: Pounding music, roaring red flames. Shirts flying off, oh my, drinks checked into the air. You're looking at England fans watching their
team at the World Cup. They have just seen this remarkable moment. Their team captain beating Tunisia by heading in a dramatic goal in the game's
very last moments.
[11:50:00] While Egyptian and Russian fans will be hoping for an excuse to party like that tonight. In just a couple of hours from now they will take
on each other and this time apparently all fixed up after hurting his shoulder, Egypt will be unleashing its superstar, goal scoring powerhouse,
Mo Salah. Just before the cup he spoke to CNN's Becky Anderson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MO SALAH, EGYPT STAR FORWARD: I'm sure if you're asking me, I'm sure I am going to do my best to head the national team and had the country to go
through. And, Yes, I don't feel pressure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: No pressure? We'll see about that. Egypt can't lose this game if they want to keep their tournament dreams alive. So, right now CNN's Fred
Pleitgen is in the middle of a fan zone in the Russian capital for tonight's game for the U.S., and Amanda Davis is keeping an eye on all the
matches over in Red Square. So, Fred, what's going on there? What's the mood like there in the fan zone?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Ivan. Well, maybe not surprisingly, but certainly surprising to us there are
already a lot of Russian fans out there about three hours before the game is even about to start. And they certainly have started a party of their
own. As you have mentioned for the Russians, this is an extremely important match because if they win tonight they will be through to the
next round, which would be the first time for either Russia or what they were before of course the Soviet Union since 1986. And of course, would do
a lot for the host country. We spoke to some Russian fans here just a couple of minutes ago. And they told us they are confident, and they said
the mood here in Russia has changed a great deal since their team has been so successful. Here's what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is really, really happy atmosphere. We are really happy to host this World Cup and it's really nice that everyone is here,
and we are here. That's really nice.
PLEITGEN: How do you feel?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's just a good festival for us and we like that we can host all these foreigners in our country and everyone smile, and
everyone is happy.
PLEITGEN: Tell me, who do you think is going to win today?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because Russia is the best team in the world. We love Russia. It's World Cup in Russia. For this reason, Russia will be
the winner. It is amazing. It's first time in Moscow when we see too many people. We are all friendly. We are nice. We love this atmosphere.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PLEITGEN: Of course, Ivan, you know that the Egyptians are looking to someone to spoil that Russian party. They're playing, as you mentioned,
with their backs against the wall and the Russians do know the main thing they have to do tonight, most probably, is contain Mo Salah -- Ivan.
WATSON: Yes, and not let some guy photo bomb the two women you were talking to. All right, Fred thank you. Amanda, earlier Japan got off to a
winning start. Can you explain to us why that was such a big deal?
AMANDA DAVIS, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes. Ivan, that was a massive disappointment for the huge number of Columbian fans who have been here in
Moscow. You saw quite a few of them behind Fred there. They have absolutely been flooding Red Square behind us here on mass. They really
went into the game against Japan as the favorites but went down to ten men. They had a player sent off very early and were beaten 2-1 by Japan.
As you said, an incredibly emotional win for them. Because the new boss had been talking in the press conference here on Monday when the news broke
to his players that there had been that earthquake in Osaka which had killed three people. And said it had quite a big impact on the squads and
had really -- he wasn't sure how they were going to react to that news amidst the concern for friends and family at home. It had an incredibly
galvanizing effect on the team as it was. You saw what it meant were them to win that match. Their first World Cup victory on European soil ever
actually.
And it's not just the events of the last 48 hours or so that make this such as incredible story. They actually sacked their coach, Vahid Halilhodzic,
in April. A new coach came in at the end of May. He played one game, his side was beaten. And then on the 1st of June he had to name his squad.
So, talk about last minute preparations. That is exactly what has happened in terms of Japan heading into this game as they beat the 2014 quarter
finalists. So, a big, big win for them.
The other match in this group is going on as we speak. It Senegal up against Poland. Two big name strikers in that one. Sadio Mane, of
Liverpool, for Senegal, up against by Munich's Robert Lewandowski.
[11:55:00] I can tell you at halftime it is Senegal with the advantage in that one. And one other bit of news that is just filtering through here at
the World Cup, some potentially worrying news for Brazil fans. Their star man, Neymar, of course, so many of their hopes are on the PSG player, he
has apparently limped out of their training session today. He's been pictured with some pretty heavy strapping on his ankle. We know that he
took a fair few knocks in their opening match, which they of course drew 1- 1. There were high hopes that it would be no impact at all on him and he'll be fit to play in their second game against Costa Rica on Friday.
But certainly, worrying that he limped off their training session today. We haven't heard any further update. But of course, we will bring that to
you when we get it -- Ivan.
WATSON: Ominous for Brazil. Amanda Davis, Fred Pleitgen, live from Moscow with the latest World Cup action. Thank you very much, guys. I'm Ivan
Watson. Thanks for watching. And before I go, we leave you with a prediction for tonight's big game from CONNECT THE WORLD's falcon friend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're into the second round of group games and Farah, the soothsaying Saker falcon is just getting into a strike.
We are expecting a good old-fashioned battle here. It's Russia versus Egypt. I wouldn't fancy betting my life on this one. That is for sure.
Let's see which way Farah goes then. It is mother Russia. He's looking at Egypt. And well, she switched to Egypt. Egypt it is, then.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
END
