The practice of separating children from their parents because of their immigration status in the U.S. is coming under fire not simply within the states, but in Ireland as well as the Dáil moves to condemn the Trump administration’s policy.

RTÉ reported that yesterday, President Trump defended the new immigration policy by stating that he refuses to let America become a migrant camp or refugee holding facility. The Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar sees this move, on the other hand, as completely wrong.

UN condemns US for separating children from parents at Mexican border | https://t.co/0fEPmJXuh3 pic.twitter.com/rXtlfvHeMA

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) June 18, 2018

Varadkar stated he would express the Irish Government’s “grave concern” over this matter to the acting US Ambassador as soon as possible. He believes that separating children from their parents can damage them for their entire lives and such devastation stays with them for life.

Ireland had previously extended an invitation to Trump to visit the country, but as of now, there are talks to rescind the invite amid this policy controversy.

Read More: Irish Americans in DC lobby for immigration reform

“It’s horrified the entire nation and world. It’s horrified the Minister for Foreign Affairs who put a tweet out about it. But we need a little bit more than a tweet. We need this parliament to send a message that we do not agree with this policy,” said PBP-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger when speaking to the Dáil.

Harrowing audio reveals desperate sobbing of children separated from their parents at US immigration centres pic.twitter.com/hmihSx3M5f

— Evening Standard (@EveningStandard) June 19, 2018

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald stated that the new policy was “unconscionable and mind-boggling” given that these children who are being separated from their parents are being held in “what can only be described as cages”.

Unfortunately as of late, as the Taoiseach said, the U.S. is increasingly departing from its own values enshrined on the Statue of Liberty: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free’.

Read More: Donald Trump is lying about DACA immigration policy