7 Haunting Images From the Trump Administration's Family Separation Crisis
Over the past week, the full extent of the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" immigration policy has begun to come to light. It kicked into high gear on June 14, as people from across the United States came together to protest the policy, which allowed for the separation of parents and children crossing into the United States border from Mexico.
After a week of national outrage, President Trump signed an executive order on June 20 intended to end the separation of children, and even babies, from their parents. Although the move signaled an official end to a policy he created, questions still remain about what will happen next. The new order undoes the previous policy in an equally heinous way: by permitting parents and children to be detained together, possibly indefinitely. Additionally, there's no plan currently in place to reunite more than 2,000 children already separated from their parents.
President Trump may believe a signature can erase what happened during his "zero-tolerance" policy, but the images and memories will remain forever with the families affected. And as explained by the American Academy of Pediatrics in a statement on May 8, the stress of this experience and the forced separation can cause irreparable harm to a child, and may likely result in "lifelong" health effects.
It's understandable if you feel affected by this recent news, but there are ways to help. Along with making monetary donations, attending a protest, volunteering, and contacting your local elected officials, you can also spread the word about what happened and what's next. Helping the people who are locked up in the U.S. immigration system can't end now. It's important that we don't forget what occurred as we continue the fight. The following gallery includes seven devastating images from this moment of the crisis.
Anadolu Agency1/7U.S. Border Patrol provided these images to the press from inside an immigration processing center in McAllen, Texas. The images quickly drew criticism, with lawmakers expressing their concern over the conditions and cages, CNN reported. More than 1,000 immigrants were reportedly being held at the McAllen processing center.
John Moore2/7In this now viral image, a two-year-old from Honduras was photographed crying near the United States-Mexico border on June 12. The child, along with her mother, were detained by U.S. Border Patrol after they had rafted across the Rio Grande and arrived near McAllen, Texas, CNN reported. A spokesperson for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection told CNN that the mother and daughter were not separated. Her father told The Washington Post that the mother and daughter are being detained together in McAllen.
Joe Raedle3/7This overhead image captured one of the "Tent Cities" built to house the influx of child detainees that were separated from their parents. This particular encampment is located at the Tornillo point of entry in Texas. Nearly 100 children were reportedly being held there as of June 18.
GUILLERMO ARIAS4/7These children were among the 50 immigrants at the Juventud 2000 shelter in Tijuana, one of the first steps for immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. Although immigrants have been instructed to enter through official points of entry, Democrats have made accusations that the asylum process is purposefully slow, and some immigrants were reportedly been turned away, despite claims of welcoming from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, ABC News reported.
GUILLERMO ARIAS5/7The Mendez family was among those seeking asylum at the Juventud 2000 migrant shelter in Tijuana. This image captured the family inside their tent. Despite concern over possible family separations, many are willing to "take the risk," citing violence, gangs, and livelihood as their reasons for seeking asylum.
Mario Tama6/7This mom, who did not identify herself for Getty Images, hoped to secure asylum for herself and her two children, shown here with their belongings. The mother told Getty Images that they left their home in Mexico after a violent carjacking. It's unclear whether their request would be granted because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently announced that domestic violence or gang violence were not grounds for asylum. Critics of the decision fear that the new policy could result in the deaths of women and children, The Washington Post reported.
Joe Raedle7/7Protestors gathered on June 19, outside the El Paso Processing Center in Texas to protest the Trump administration's family separation policy. The gathering was one of many protests held across the United States. A nationwide day of protest has been scheduled for June 30.
