Washington, DC – Today following the release of the EFE interview with Domestic Policy Advisor Susan E. Rice and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) President Wendy Young issued the following statement:
“The incoming Biden Administration is right to focus on procedures and policies that will restore vital asylum screening procedures at the U.S.-Mexico border and reflect our nation’s long-held humanitarian approach to protecting the most vulnerable among us. The chaos that has marked the past four years will take time to sort out. The Trump Administration burned down the house that was our asylum laws and policies, fundamental protections that were built over decades to shelter those fleeing persecution and violence. The incoming Biden Administration will have to rebuild that system, and hopefully rebuild it stronger. They should immediately focus on policies that can correct the disorder of the past four years and provide long-term solutions for those most in need. That work should start on day one and it must respect the vital protections for unaccompanied children and families that exist in U.S. law. KIND vows to work in service of that goal, and we will continue to hold our government accountable as it crafts the next chapter in our nation’s immigration response.”
Earlier this fall, KIND issued its Blueprint “Concrete Steps to Protect Unaccompanied Children on the Move,” which provides guidance on how the U.S. government should uphold its responsibility to treat these children humanely and in accordance with the law and this country’s ideals. The organization, which also has offices in Mexico and works extensively throughout Central American and around the world, crafted its blueprint as a roadmap for best protecting children at every stage of their migration journey. It outlines a comprehensive set of policy recommendations, spanning a range of federal agencies and issue areas. KIND’s recommendations are grounded in over a decade of experience working directly with thousands of unaccompanied children and in our vision for a world in which children’s rights and well-being are protected as they migrate alone in search of safety.
Please click here to read KIND’s report on the Central America Minors program and the importance of broadening refugee processing in Central America to help more unaccompanied children.
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For more information, contact Megan McKenna at mmckenna@supportkind.org, 202-631-9990.