The number of migrant children in the government’s custody is at it’s highest point ever, the New York Times reported Wednesday based on data members of Congress shared with the paper.
This month, 12,800 children were in government-contracted shelters, in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, up from 2,400 in May of last year.
Arrest rates at the border have stayed roughly the same, the Times said. Rather, the Trump administration’s new policy requiring the fingerprinting of family members who wish to take children out of HHS custody appears to have massively slowed the process of releasing children from the shelters.
Fingerprints shared with the government can be accessed by immigration enforcement agents, and many potential sponsors are themselves undocumented and fear deportation.
The Times, citing unnamed people familiar with the system, said the spike in children in the government’s custody came from relatives being discouraged from sponsoring children.
The government just announced it would expand it’s 360-bed “tent city” in Tornillo, Texas to fit 3,600 beds.
So.Much.Sinning.
The photo makes me cry. Not only is the impact on parents and kids immoral and devastating, but siblings are either being forced to assume responsibilities they never should have to bear or suffering horrible losses themselves.
this is criminal. everyone involved and everyone capable of preventing this should be hauled up on charges.
12,800 children being held as prisoners. This is child abuse. It is shameful and a crime being done in our name. This is unspeakably cruel.
By all means, let’s take funds for FEMA training and logistics and a big hunk from the Coast Guard to pay for detention centers and child imprisonment . I think the 3000 deaths in Puerto Rico was a success in Trump’s mind. That many fewer non white US citizens.