Resolution Opposing the Separation of Immigrant Families Crossing into the US

A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S POLICY TO SEPARATE CHILDREN FROM THEIR PARENTS AS IT MAXIMIZES PROSECUTION OF ALL UNDOCUMENTED BORDER CROSSERS, INCLUDING ASYLUM SEEKERS

WHEREAS, the Trump administration’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced in early May a new “zero tolerance” policy in which they sharply step up prosecution of undocumented border crossers, regardless of the nature of each case and at the expense of separating children from their parents, and

WHEREAS, the innocent children of detained undocumented border crossers are not allowed in the adult detention facilities in which their parents are housed while awaiting trial on federal charges and must be sent to relatives or into special programs for such children, and

WHEREAS, the Trump administration’s Justice and Homeland Security departments between October 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018, separated at least 2,700 children from their parents, in some cases sending them thousands of miles apart, and

WHEREAS, more than 100 of the children taken away from their parents were under 5 years of age, and

WHEREAS, many of the separated children were housed in warehouses and confined in wire cages, and

WHEREAS, Sessions said “If you don’t want your child(ren) to be separated (from you) then don’t bring them across the border illegally,” and

WHEREAS, members of the Trump administration have said they believe that their family-separation policy is a way to deter families from trying to cross the border without documentation, and

WHEREAS, there is overwhelming medical evidence that the separation of a young child from his or her parent will have a devastating negative impact on the child’s well-being, especially where there are other traumatic factors at work, and that this damage can be permanent, and

WHEREAS, a growing population of children with trauma-related mental issues in an environment lacking well-funded public services and institutional will for addressing serious mental health concerns combined with the likelihood of poverty, creates an underclass of human beings denied the services they need and the dignity they deserve, and

WHEREAS, the numbers of undocumented border crossers are at historic lows and a growing percentage of these crossers are asylum-seekers fleeing violence, repression, and abuse, and

WHEREAS, the Trump administration, in reaction to a groundswell of opposition to its separation of families, halted the practice, but it continues to deport families back to very dangerous circumstances from which many of them fled, and

WHEREAS, the policy of previous Republican and Democratic administrations was to release adults charged with undocumented entry while they were awaiting trial so they could care for their children,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Writers Union hereby denounces the Trump administration’s inhumane and unjust “zero tolerance” policy of indiscriminately prosecuting all undocumented border crossers, and separating children from parents to the severe detriment of all involved. As a first step, the Trump administration must return to the previous policy of releasing adults awaiting trial to care for their children. As a second step, we must support and develop the institutions and infrastructure to properly care for and serve the adults and children fleeing violence, repression, and abuse.

Keith Bagwell – kbagwell50@gmail.com