U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Kansas, joined a growing bipartisan group of lawmakers calling on the Trump administration to discontinue its practice of splitting up families who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
On Monday, Yoder sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking for an immediate end to the policy.
The letter comes one week after Yoder, who chairs the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee, recieved a letter himself from more than 50 elected officials in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties urging him to take steps to try to end the policy, which was rolled out in May.
"As Congress pursues legislation to address this issue this week, an interim solution is needed," Yoder wrote to Sessions. "I ask that you take immediate action to end the practice of separating children from families at the border."
Recently, Yoder embarked on what he called a "fact-finding mission" to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas near the southern border to speak to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and investigate the situation.
In his letter this week, he called for stricter border protection and said he has seen "firsthand the need to step up enforcement to protect against the flow of drugs and human trafficking at the border."
Yoder represents Kansas' 3rd District, which includes all of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, and is up for re-election in November. Seven Democrats have already entered the primary race for a chance to challenge him for his seat.
Nicolas Telep is KCUR's morning news intern. Follow him on Twitter @NDTelep.
