Neighbor News
In the Pursuit of Happiness
Immigration reform is an issue that affects many lives. Reunited families are still at risk for deportation. The fight continues.
As social work students with more than ten years combined supporting immigrant youth in Bushwick and other neighborhoods in New York City, each day it becomes more evident that the United States zero-tolerance policy is xenophobic, bigoted, and perpetuates a refugee crisis. This policy is inhumane because it continues to disrupt family stability. The detention facilities for children have placed children in danger by ignoring their medical and other basic needs. Instead of providing a caring environment these facilities promote militarization of children, which is shown by staff punishing siblings for hugging each other. According to the Department of Homeland Security with the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy, 2,342 youth were separated from their parents in an attempt to deter families from coming to the United States.
The Department of Health and Human Services reports that the enforcement of the zero-tolerance policy resulted in a total of 10,773 migrant children in custody, up from 8,886 on April 29th of this year. According to the Office of Refugee and Resettlement, 83% of unaccompanied minors from 2017 were 13 and older, in contrast, children who were taken from their parents tended to be much younger. Young children who are separated from their parents face trauma, including short-term and permanent mental and behavioral issues.
The United States government chose to separate children to further their immigration policies to keep immigrant families of color out of the U.S. Because we know that most immigrants crossing the border are women and children these laws are explicitly breaking up families and destroying lives. Labeling people as criminals for crossing the border to seek safety, a chance at financial stability, and the “American Dream” is inhumane. Although Pres. Trump signed an Executive Order stopping the separation of families; there are 2,342 children whose future remains unclear. The possibility of endangering the lives of families by sending them back to unsafe conditions is still a reality. The fight continues to end this refugee crisis and assuring that all families are safe as they seek to achieve stability and happiness.
By Nathalie Lebron and Jasmina Chuck