Washington, D.C. –
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) today expressed support for the exemption of unaccompanied children under the Biden Administration’s Proclamation temporarily restricting access to asylum on the protection of children and their families but expressed concern that the overall order will deepen the dangers faced by families.
“The first line of protection for children is family unity; the Administration’s Proclamation puts family unity, and therefore children, at risk,” said KIND President Wendy Young. “While we welcome the Administration’s exemption of unaccompanied children in accordance with longstanding law that provides for the protection of unaccompanied children and helps to ensure that children are safe from trafficking and persecution, we fear its action today will leave families vulnerable to bad actors preying on those seeking protection and which will result in many children becoming unaccompanied or separated.”
The Biden Administration’s Proclamation restricts access to asylum immediately and while the average daily total of those arriving between ports of entry remains above 1,500. The exemption of unaccompanied children from this policy is consistent with the TVPRA and was also included in a recent Senate agreement on border policy, a step that underscores and reflects bipartisan recognition of unaccompanied children’s unique vulnerabilities.
###
Media Contact: Megan McKenna, mmckenna@supportkind.org, 202-631-9990
