In a shocking new piece, the Associated Press now places the tally of migrant children separated from their parents as a result of Trump’s harsh immigration policy at 5,460. This is almost double the initial 2,814 figure the government cited in court when U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw of the Southern District of California ordered an end to the cruel family separation policy in June 2018. In ordering the Trump administration to stop the family separation policy except in limited circumstances (unverifiable parent or threat to child safety), the federal judge also ordered the immediate reunification of the separated children with their families.
This is not who we are. And as a nation, we will prove that next November. Families belong together. https://t.co/dvYvFuB0Vq
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 28, 2019
For the record, back in June 2018 when the federal judge ordered an end to the family separation policy, it was widely acknowledged both by immigration activists and government officials that the final tally would end up being higher than the 2,814 figure presented in court because the Trump administration was already separating migrant children from their parents even before they officially embarked on the family separation policy in the Spring of 2018.
It is fair to say that the new tally of 5,460 migrant children which almost doubles the initial 2,814 figure, is way more than anyone expected and further cements the conclusion already reached by many that Trump’s immigration policy is the most cruel and inhumane in U.S. history. The government separating one child from their family as a result of an immigration violation is already cruel and unusual punishment. When the government separates 5,400 children from their families as a result of immigration violations, that is sufficient grounds for a Human Rights violations probe by the United Nations, especially when according to the AP piece, as many as 71 children 2 years old or less(5 of them only months old) were also victims of this cruel immigration policy. Simply put folks, no immigration policy is worth ripping a baby less than a year old from their mother, and no decent human being would ever defend such a policy.
It is also worth pointing out that child health advocates repeatedly warned the Trump administration that separating children from their parents would cause severe and irreversible mental and psychological injuries to them. These warnings were made while the Trump administration was still conducting the family separation policy. Well, according to the AP piece, it appears that even after the federal judge ordered the an end to the family separation policy in June 2018, the Trump administration disregarded the judge’s order and proceeded to separate a further 1,090 children—an inexcusable abuse of power.
Bottom line folks, immigration has always been and still remains one of the most complex issues any U.S. administration faces. The reason for this is very simple–America remains a country of immigrants and issues related to immigration elicit sharp reactions from both sides of the political divide. The Trump administration is not the first, nor will it be the last one to enact an immigration policy that generates a lot of public outcry. One only hopes however that the Trump administration’s cruel and inhumane family separation policy is the last immigration policy any U.S. administration ever enacts in total disregard to the serious and irreversible health consequences it subjects young migrant children to. As Senator and Presidential candidate Kamala Harris (D-CA) famously says, “We are better than this.”
For those of you very happy with @Emolclause’s activism don’t shy away from the “tip jar” below on your way out.
You may reach the author via email at author@grassrootsdempolitics.com or author@emolumentsclause.com