Naomi - //I watched him speaking television last night when he said something like “Compassion was on trial here”. Wrong. He was on trial for breaking the law – and the law proved itself, yet again, to be an ass by setting what is likely to become a self-defeating precedent. //
I agree entirely with your assessment - this man continues to fail to see that his own inappropriate emotional involvement in this situation has created a difficult situation for everyone else involved in the work he is doing.
No-one should allow their emotions to try and justify breaking the law - quite apart from the emotional impact on this poor child who has suffered separation from her father, possibly permanent, only then to be returned from whence she started.
I think this man should be prevented from continuing this type of humanitarian support - he is clearly emotionally unsuitable, and lacks the ability to distance himself from the situation in order to offer proper support.