Earthjustice Condemns the Reckless Separation of Families
“The inability to unite families will have lasting harmful impacts.”
Contacts
Robert Valencia, Earthjustice
The following is a statement from Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen: “Earthjustice condemns the inhumane treatment of immigrant families who have been cruelly and recklessly separated by immigration officials on the U.S.-Mexico border.
“An estimated 5,400 children were separated from their families since 2017 after being subjected to a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy.
“The impact of severing families has been worsened by a failure to effectively implement a means to track children and their parents, leading to the current situation where 545 children have not been able to reunite with their parents.
“Families seeking to enter the United States to improve their lives should be treated with basic dignity and compassion. Their full human rights should be protected.
“These acts are just another reflection of the most oppressive aspects of this nation’s history, including the internment of Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals, and policies and practices that separated Native American children and African American children.”
About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.