Family Separation

For a country that prides itself on placing great emphasis on family values, the family separations that have occurred as a result of the “zero tolerance” policy implemented by President Donald Trump, are seen by many as outrageous and immoral. The “zero tolerance” policy called for the prosecution of all individuals who illegally enter the United States.

Families would be detained together, sent back to their country immediately or get parole in the country. With the implementation of this policy, thousands of children were separated from their parents when they were trying to enter the United States illegally at the border. They were then put in detention centers where the conditions were unsuitable. This caused a national outrage and uproar.

A lot of people in developing countries struggle economically and fear for their lives on a daily basis. Their countries are stricken with violence and poverty. They try to give their children a better chance by bringing them to the land of opportunities, the U.S.

Many were trying to escape economic instability when their arrival to the U.S. turned into a nightmare. Their children were taken away from them when they arrived at the border. What they thought was a chance of freedom turned out to be horrible when the Trump administration separated thousands of children from their parents. This is the reality that thousands of children and their families had to live through.

Sixty-five children were being separated per day, from May 5th to June 9th. As many as 2,342 children had been separated from 2,206 parents at the US-Mexico border. Between October 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018, at least 2,700 children had been split from their parents.

Customs and Border Protection statistics on family separations suggest that 93 children were separated from their parents per day after the zero-tolerance directive went into effect.

Restrictions for holding children in immigration detention is set by the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement. It disputed how the federal government dealt with treatment, detention, and release of immigrant children.

Enrique Mendez is an immigration lawyer who explained that the Flores agreement, talks about the limit on how long families with children can be detained, which courts have interpreted the limit as 20 days. Kids cannot be held for more than 72 hours. He also explained that it will be harder for any immigrant trying to enter the country to get asylum because issues like poverty and danger are not seen as sufficient reasons. He explains that it is a tough time for the issue of immigration in the country.

“Catch and release” was a term used frequently by the Trump administration. The Trump administration used this to refer the release of immigrants from custody as their cases were pending in the court system. Those migrants must still check in with immigration authorities and attend hearings in immigration court.

Through this agreement it was stated that children be held in Office of Refugee Resettlement shelters. Initially the children went through US Customs and Border Protection screening and Health and Human Services background checks. Then the ORR placed children in custody until they could be released to a family member, guardian or foster family. Due to the ongoing influx of migrant children, the ORR made makeshift shelters at military bases, former warehouses, and tents located primarily in Texas. These created conditions that confined children in cages who were only supplied large foil sheets as blankets.

Moreover, the administration hasn’t created a sufficient way for families to communicate or be reunified. No system was set to identify which child belonged to who or to inform parents about the whereabouts of their child. When parents were released they had to wait for long periods of time to hear from their children. Some parents were even deported without their children.

Maria Gomez has been in pain after she was separated from her child who was taken to a detention center. Her tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried to explain the suffering and heartache she went through. It is not easy for her to explain the situation.

She said, “It hurt so bad being separated from my child. It’s the worst pain. I wouldn’t wish it upon anybody.” Gomez explains that this has affected her child in a psychological way. She says he acts differently, more quiet and reserved.

Gomez came to look for a better future for her child and her family back home in Guatemala. She barely had enough to feed her child. She says that her village became dangerous and gang members would roam in her neighborhood. Gomez says it frightened her that one day her son would be exposed to all the poverty and violence.

She says she was determined to come, nobody was going to change her mind. But what seemed a blessing turned into a nightmare when she tried to enter the country illegally and her child was taken away. Gomez says she has never experimented pain like that before, not knowing about her child.

According to reports some children were held in detention centers that had cages made of metal wire with the AC at very low temperatures. The cries of the children echoed while sitting on the cold, concrete floor. Many children have talked about their stay in the detention centers. It is clear some even experience irreparable psychological trauma.

Correctional counselor and sociologist, Veronica Rivera, says that many children suffer psychological trauma because it was indeed a traumatic experience for them. She says, “They had to leave their countries behind, have a long journey to the land of dreams, to be separated from their parents, that’s bound to leave trauma.”

She explains that the children’s brains are still developing. She says, “ I would imagine many of these children would need counseling or even therapy to help them overcome the fear and isolation many of these kids felt.”

Border Angels is a non profit organization that advocates for human rights, humane immigration reform, and social justice with a special focus on issues related to the US-Mexican border. They are known for their community work at the border such as water and supply drops at various parts of the desert to help immigrants in their route to to the US.

Dulce Aguirre is the general manager of Border Angels. As a Mexican immigrant Aguirre can relate to the reasons these people fled their native country. Her goal is to help many immigrants passage to the US by delivering necessary supplies and water to many parts of the desert. She is a defender of human rights especially of the children who were separated.

More than 500 children that were separated are still being kept in shelters. Some of these children’s parent’s information has been lost or their parents have been already deported. The reunification seems long and distant for a lot of them. Their cases are still on hold. According to child psychology experts this creates trauma emotionally and psychologically to these children.

Many of these families come in need of a better opportunity. They risk their lives coming illegally so they can obtain the American dream. Currently, thousands of people are coming from Central America. This will continue to happen if the country doesn’t have strong immigration laws and realize that this is a crisis. These people are suffering in their own countries, they don’t find a way out so they decide to come to create a better future for their families and themselves.

What is happening right now is a humanity crisis. People from developed countries will continue to come until there is change in their countries. The US has gone to many of these countries for cheap labor and even promote it own agenda.

One example, can be El Salvador. This country had a civil war in where many citizens wanted change. They wanted equality. But the US supported the government even spending millions to contribute to the government’s military. Many people died when the war ended. As a result, in today’s world, El Salvador is one of the world’s most dangerous countries.

A solution can be to provide more monetary help and support to these Latin American countries. One has to look at the political situations going on in these countries to realize people fear living in their own countries that they are willing to risk everything for the American Dream. More support and implementation of government leaders that will support their people is needed in these countries.

We also need to realize this is a humanity crisis. These people feel that their countries aren’t safe anymore. They have to leave their homes and family behind for a better future. Mothers bring their children for a better opportunity.

A recent visit to the border put in clear perspective the dire situation occurring. We met with Aguirre who said everyone in the organization had left to drop supplies for the caravan of immigrants. She says that they are trying to provide the most they can.

There is a lot of tension at the border. We encountered a protest going on where many were protesting the treatment of the immigrants. There were people protesting against President Trump and his policies. They had a banner that said “Trump and Pence need to go.” But there were people also in favor. One lady came and started yelling her support for President Trump. The tension rose as they began to argue and some police officers had to come to appease the situation.

The situation occurring in the border right now is a clear example of the crisis. Thousands of people are trying to enter the US because their countries are in dire conditions. One can sense a different type of atmosphere at the border.

Immigration does not have a clear solution. As long as there not laws that will help reduce immigration and increase help in developing countries, people will continue to come for a chance of a better opportunity, even risk their own lives. Most importantly, they want to provide their kids with a better future. Separation of families was not a solution to reduce immigration. It provoked many across the country to denounce the “zero tolerance” policy.

Many children have still not been reunited with their families till this day. The country needs to find a solution. People will continue to come until their countries problems are solved.

Maria Gomez- mother, Kimberly, October 5, 6:30 pm

Dulce Aguirre- Border Angels general manager, email

Enrique Mendez- attorney, interviewed at his office, Claudia, 3:30 pm

Veronica Rivera- correctional counselor and sociologist, phone interview,

October 21, 10:45 am