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#FamiliesBelongTogether Campaign Demands Feds Stop Separating Parents, Children at Border
Today (June 1), advocates partnered for a national day of action in response to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's practice of separating immigrant children from their families at the United States-Mexico border as part of the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy on border crossings.
The Families Belong Together campaign, organized by the National Domestic Workers Alliance and co-sponsored by several civil rights and immigrant justice organizations, demands that the federal government ensure the safety of children and youth. In the aftermath of a report released last month by the American Civil Liberties Union that details a pattern of Border Patrol agents sexually and physically abusing children from 2009 to 2014, some advocates also called on Congress to defund Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Last month, the Trump administration unveiled tentative plans to criminally prosecute and jail parents who cross the U.S.-Mexico border as a way to deter immigrants—mostly Central Americans fleeing from gang and sexual violence—from entering the U.S. In a speech at the San Diego border, Department of Justice Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the federal agency's “zero tolerance" approach to border crossings, as Colorlines previously reported.
"If you cross this border unlawfully, then we will prosecute you. It’s that simple,” said Sessions. "If you smuggle aliens across our border, then we will prosecute you. If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law."
When parents are prosecuted, their children are placed in shelters in the care of the Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Refugee Resettlement, where they are designated as "unaccompanied minors" as they await reunification with family members or other sponsors who are already living in the United States. But this process may soon face additional hurdles under a new policy that will require child sponsors to be fingerprinted. Immigrant advocates say the move will deter parents and guardians from claiming their children for fear of detention and deportation. In May, Reuters reported that the Trump administration plans to begin housing youth in military bases.
In an emailed statement, leaders in the Families Belong Together campaign condemned the Trump administration for what they called "inhumane" policies that threaten the safety of children.
From Ai-jen Poo, executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and co-founder of the We Belong Together campaign:
Where are the children? This question has taken hold of our hearts and minds in recent days. What we know is thousands of children are not with their parents. Instead, they are in detention facilities where no child belongs or they living in fear of being separated from their families every time they leave for school. [...] We will take the streets on June 1 to demand that the Trump Administration stops prosecuting and separating children from their families immediately. Families belong together and the children who have come to our country seeking safety, should be safe.
Below, a snapshot of some of the actions taking place across the country today, both online and off:
LIVE @TheJusticeDept: Trump admin ?separating immigrant families! #FamiliesBelongTogether @actdottv https://t.co/4rlC6FZ4q7
— MoveOn (@MoveOn) June 1, 2018
Leading a chant of “We the people demand mercy & compassion!” Clergy member: we are morally called to be here for #FamiliesBelongTogether pic.twitter.com/yHqIC0Pr5w
— ACLU of Ohio (@acluohio) June 1, 2018
Immigrants have gone through enough abuse. End family separation.
— United We Dream (@UNITEDWEDREAM) June 1, 2018
DEFUND ICE & DEFUND CBP
DEFUND ICE & DEFUND CBP
DEFUND ICE & DEFUND CBP
DEFUND ICE & DEFUND CBP
DEFUND ICE & DEFUND CBP #FamiliesBelongTogether
☎️ Call your elected officials: 210-720-3059
It's a National Day of Action for Children! #FamiliesBelongTogether
— Make the Road NY (@MaketheRoadNY) June 1, 2018
NYC, join us today at 5pm @ Foley Square for a Jericho Walk around DHS to demand the Trump admin #EndFamilySeparation.
JOIN: https://t.co/9lTxapvJof https://t.co/YLZOFXvyR3
Remember #ClaudiaPatriciaGomezGonzalez. Remember #RoxsanaHernandez. Gone but not forgotten because we speak for these women today. #FamiliesBelongTogether pic.twitter.com/o6bebqxFHk
— CASA (@CASAforall) June 1, 2018
This morning 12 year old Leah stood in front of the ICE office in Miramar Florida and to end family separations. Every day she worries that ICE will tear her mom from her. #FamiliesBelongTogether pic.twitter.com/1L0lKyoY7k
— We Belong Together (@WomenBelong) June 1, 2018
#Immigration activists are holding rallies all over the country today to protest a new policy that can separate children from their families at the border. pic.twitter.com/aYnAZeNFci
— Camila Bernal (@CamilaBernal) June 1, 2018
Jocelyn's son has been torn from her since August.#ClaudiaGonzalez was killed by Border Patrol last wk.#RoxsanaHernandez died in ICE custody last wk.
— Gabe #DreamActNow Ortíz (@TUSK81) June 1, 2018
They deserve justice. Call 210-720-3059 to demand accountability from Congress! #StopSeparatingFamilies #DefundCBP #DefundICE pic.twitter.com/R1VGIzwJg8