US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions has cited the Bible in defence of his border policy that is resulting in hundreds of immigrant children being separated from their parents after they enter the country illegally.
Sessions was speaking in Fort Wayne, Indiana, when he pushed back against criticism he had received over the policy, including from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the Catholic archbishop of Galveston-Houston, who said separating mothers from their babies was immoral.
Sessions said many of the recent criticisms were not "fair or logical and some are contrary to law".
"I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order," he said.
"Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful."
Last month, Sessions announced a "zero tolerance" policy that any adult who entered the country illegally would be criminally prosecuted.
US protocol prohibits detaining children with their parents because the children are not charged with a crime and the parents are.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Thursday she had not seen Sessions' comments but affirmed the Bible backed up the administration's actions.
In unusually tense exchanges in the White House briefing room, Sanders wrongly blamed Democrats for the policy separating children from parents and insisted the administration had made no changes in increasing the use.
Until the policy was announced in April, such families were usually referred for civil deportation proceedings, not requiring separation.
Some Republicans have begun to distance themselves from the policy.
Among them is House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said he was not comfortable with the Trump administration's actions but added the policy was being dictated by a court ruling that prevented children who entered the country illegally being held in custody for long periods.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi pushed back on that assessment, saying President Donald Trump could "stop the practice on a dime".
Australian Associated Press
