01.28.2018
Washington, DC — Once again, the Trump Administration is taking cruel aim at children in its bid to reach its anti-immigrant policy goals.
“The Dreamers, CHIP recipients, unaccompanied children—the Trump Administration is continually targeting the most vulnerable among us in a cynical, punishing strategy that plays politics with children’s lives,” said KIND President Wendy Young. “The so-called loopholes touted by the Administration and anti-immigrant Members of Congress are in fact forms of protection that ensure we do not return unaccompanied children to grave danger. Targeting those in the greatest need shows weakness rather than strength and is no way to lead the United States,” Young said.
The White House framework reportedly would treat all unaccompanied children as we currently do children from Mexico—that is, return them quickly to their home countries with only a cursory screening of whether they are victims of trafficking or potentially eligible for U.S. protection due to harm they may face in their home country. It would also decimate the U.S. asylum system.
“Without question, returning all unaccompanied children to their home countries in this way and creating even greater barriers to accessing asylum would result in untold numbers of children being raped, murdered, trafficked and seriously harmed,” Young added.
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Media Contact: Megan McKenna, mmckenna@supportkind.org, 202-631-9990