Lawyers Admit To Being Unable To Locate Parents of 545 Migrant Children Separated at the Border
Nearly three years after the border separation crisis initiated by the Trump administration, lawyers reveal that parents of 545 migrant children still cannot be located.
Back in 2017, the separation crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border sparked worldwide outrage as children were shown locked in cages using aluminum foil as blankets, unsure of when or if they’d be reunited with their parents. Many children still have not had that reunion, and some may never get the chance to see their parents again.
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Earlier this week lawyers of the American Civil Liberties Union revealed that parents of 545 migrant children still cannot be reached. Parents of 283 have not been found at all, while 187 have been found but not successfully contacted and 75 have not been found but expected to be able to be reached by phone.
What makes me so sick about the 545 kids separated from their parents is that most of them are so young and can’t comprehend what happened. They will think their parents abandoned them and their relationship is damaged forever even if they are reunited
— abolish ice (@thenamesjimmie) October 22, 2020
In 2017 the Trump administration enacted a policy that would charge those caught crossing the border illegally. They were then sent to immigration detention centers to await deportation proceedings and any accompanying minors were sent to separate detention facilities. Some were also either sent to other family members in the US or to foster homes.
the parents of 545 children who were separated from their parents at the border still can’t be found
the orange moron instituted the zero tolerance policy which resulted in the separation of thousands of innocent children from their families
— Hayden Sidun (@HaydenSidun) October 22, 2020
Nearly 5,000 families were separated before the federal government was finally ordered to end the policy and reunite the separated families. Even though many were reunited, the parents and children affected may never be able to fully recover from the psychological trauma inflicted by their separation. Some have experienced increased anxiety, social attachment issues, and even PTSD as a result.
I avoid political-related stuff here, but everybody needs to know that kids are left to their fortunes because the federal goverment took them from parents. Total shame. No excuses. Parents of 545 Children Separated at the Border Cannot Be Found https://t.co/pk7YakoNVW
— Lea T. Grinberg (@grinberg_t) October 22, 2020
Many are expressing their frustrations on social media and blaming Trump for his poor handling of the border crisis since he was elected. They’re calling out the president for his lack of compassion and silence since the news broke of the missing parents.
.@realDonaldTrump is evil. His administration has separated hundreds of immigrant children from their parents and now we’re learning that at least 545 children have not been reunited with their parents yet. Imagine this happening to your family. We must vote him out in 13 days. https://t.co/ps4IvTJO6n
— Jakhari (@goldenpanther21) October 22, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new separation procedure has been enacted. Parents are being pressured to separate from their children voluntarily by either having their children placed with family members in the US or into the foster care system or staying with them in detention centers and taking the chance of contracting the coronavirus.
The ACLU says they’ve been working diligently to locate the parents who are still missing. Even though there’s no guarantee that they’ll all be found, they say they won’t stop until all families have been reunited.
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