Barrett ducks questions on family separation

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett would not say that the Trump administration’s practice of separating children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border was wrong.

Barrett was being questioned by Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey about the practice during her confirmation hearing Wednesday. She said she could not be drawn into a debate about the Trump administration’s immigration policy. She has refused to engage on many issues, including whether President Donald Trump has the right to delay the election, citing the need for judicial independence.

The Trump administration separated more than 2,500 children from their parents at the border during the spring and summer of 2018. The practice was widely derided as inhumane by world leaders, lawmakers and religious groups, including by Pope Francis.

Later investigations concluded thousands more may have been separated, but the administration’s lack of records made it impossible to fully grasp how many. The administration is still in court over the policy.

Booker also questioned Barrett about voter suppression and racial disparities in the justice system before arguing the confirmation hearings themselves are not normal, given the fact Americans are already begun voting for president.

"Have you ever waited five hours to vote," Booker asked the nominee.

"I have not," Barrett replied.

"Have you ever waited over an hour, even," Booker then asked.

" I have not," Barrett said.