Shadow Hearing in South Gate by Members of Congress

Congress women Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) and Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) presented a Shadow Hearing on the reunification of families and the impacts on families that have been separated. The panel also consisted of experts in the related fields: Susie Haslett (Policy Training Director, FWD.us ), Gabriel Arellano (Managing Attorney, Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project), Dr. Amy Cohen (Psychiatric Consultant, Flores Counsel), and Maria, (a mother traumatically affected by President Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy).

What are Shadow Hearings: “When Republicans controlled Congress from 1995 to 2006, for example, Democratic lawmakers—shut out of the formal hearing process—held so- called ‘shadow’ hearings to protest their inability to call witnesses or otherwise define the hearing agenda.”(http://www.slate.com/articles/...). In this case Congress is refusing to have formal meetings on the process of Reunification and how to handle the post traumatic effects family separation has on both the children, parents, and family members.

The Zero Tolerance Policy enforced by the Trump Administration went into effect on June 6, 2018. As described through testimony as a "hell on earth experience". Children who have been separated from their parents have not been tracked, resulting in a difficult or almost impossible to reunite with loved ones. Congresswoman Judy Chu testifies on how hundreds of children remain separated from their parents resulting in "toxic stress, children becoming silent, withdrawn, and may have permanent damage."

Maria (a mother traumatically affected by President Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy), stated that she was not allowed to speak with her two children her 5 yr. old daughter and 13 yr old. When she was finally given the opportunity after 1 month of being separated, it was too long. And upon being reunited with her 5 yr old, she saw that her hands were burned, and she was covered in lice. Evidence that her child was not being properly cared for by the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Susie Haslett from (https://www.fwd.us/), stated that her organization has assisted 632 families. Many immigrants are threatened to undergo a "credible fear interview". If they do not comply, they face immediate deportation. However, after they public outcry and outrage over Trump Administration's Zero Tolerance Policy, children will now face indefinite detention side-by-side their parents.

Dr. Amy Cohen (Psychiatric Consultant), testified that the incarceration and institutionalism of minor children, and immediate removal of parents is defined as torture. As anxiety levels rise in children, they also feel a heightened sense of danger which becomes "toxic stress". This results in irreversible damage to a child's immune function, emotional regulation, reduces brain mass, P.T.S.D. and causes long term depression. For a small child the loss of a primary parent for a 1 month duration period feels like 1 year.

Both Congresswomen stated, that upon their visit to detention centers they were informed by staff that children received adequate care which included mental health evaluations. However, after testimony from the rest of the panel, we come to find out that the reality is very different. Babies were left in soiled diapers for hours at a time resulting in severe diaper rash. If children continued to cry out or act out in some way they were placed in what is called the "ice box" in which they drop the temperature so cold as a form of punishment. Others were placed in rooms with no daylight, with little to no exercise. The summary of the report states " this is child abuse on a mass scale".

At the ORR facility in Texas, psychiatrists who performed mental health evaluations were not given any type of formal training in Trauma.

Additional testimony from Hessler stated that " The United States had a plan to separate but no intention to eventually reunite families."

According to attorney, Gabriel Arellano (Esperanza Project), the court system process for immigration is a vicious cycle. Mostly resulting in intimidation, rejection of asylum applications, and a fast-track to deportations.

What works? Public outcry and outrage. Calls, emails, and letters to public officials. Congress women Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) , ended the hearing with, " This is the first conversation of many."