Response to Separation of Children from Their Parents at the U.S. Border
DEC has signed on to a letter being circulated by the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, CLASP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Defense Fund and others protesting the separation of children from their parents at the U.S. border. The letter was originally sent in January and signed by more than 200 organizations. Since then the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice have doubled-down on these separations and manufactured an enormous crisis. Earlier this week at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection reported that in just two weeks (May 6-May 19), the agency separated 658 children from their parents under the Attorney General’s “zero tolerance” policy. By taking children from parents the federal government has rendered hundreds of children “unaccompanied,” adding them to the ranks of truly unaccompanied children—those who do not have parents to care for them. And now the government is turning to abandoned military bases to house these children.
If you are a member of other organizations from child welfare, juvenile justice, and child development organizations or in any state and national organizations representing the well being of children, the group is encouraging partner organizations to join in this action, or to contact them with questions.
Signatures must be submitted by Monday, June 4 at 5pm Eastern. If you need additional information on how to sign on, we are happy to assist. Contact peggy@dec-sped.org.
