Speaking Up to Keep Families Together

You may remember about this time last year, rumors swirled that that the U.S. Government was considering a policy proposal to separate children from adults when they are trying to enter the country illegally at the southern border, in order to deter families from trying to enter the United States.  The rationale was ostensibly to save migrant families from exploitation and danger during their long journeys.

The reaction from child protection leaders (including our own President and CEO, Caryl Stern) was immediate: whatever the immigration issues, separating children from their families at border crossings would be cruel and traumatic to them. And the proposal seemed to fade away.

Or so we thought. In December 2017, media reports indicated that the Secretary of Homeland Security was seriously considering a policy to separate children from families at the southern border.

Because keeping families together is a fundamental principle for UNICEF around the world, we felt compelled to raise our concerns directly with DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Caryl joined other executives from child-focused organizations on a letter to Secretary Nielsen, highlighting the huge child protection impacts that family separation has on children, and urging her to reject this proposal.

As you know, UNICEF USA is a non-partisan organization; we do not endorse or criticize political parties or figures. However, we have a responsibility to raise our voice on policy issues that affect children, regardless of Administration. We sincerely hope that Secretary Nielsen will heed our words and put children first.