The proposed government plan to separate Undocumented mothers entering the US from their children has caused waves of panic, as undocumented parents are scrambling to figure out what to do with their children. According to Reuters, more and more parents are rushing to immigration lawyers and advocates to designate temporary guardianships for their children in fear of an immigration crackdown.
Five million children with "illegal" parents at risk.
According to a 2016 study by MPI, there are around five million children under the age of eighteen living in the US that have at least one parent that is undocumented.
"The parents' biggest fear is that their kids will end up in foster care" said New Jersey immigration attorney Helen Ramirez, who now receives six phone calls a day from parents, whereas last years she received none.
Until now, children of undocumented parents who are mostly US citizens have been protected by law, and families are released and allowed to stay together until their cases are resolved. If the new policy is enforced, parents that face deportation will be detained by border officials, while the children will be placed into the protective custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, before they are placed with a relative or state-sponsored guardian.
Plan described as "violating human rights" and cruel.
Critics of the trump administration plan have said that the new policy violates human rights, immigration laws, and common decency. According to The Sacramento Bee, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) said in a statement that "separating mothers and children is wrong."
On Twitter Rep Henry Cuellar added that "When it comes to immigration enforcement we need to practice common sense and common decency."
When it comes to immigration enforcement, we need to practice common sense and common decency. https://t.co/6POQLr1t06
— Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) March 3, 2017
U.S.
Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, a member of the House subcommittee on immigration and border security described the Trump administration plan on Twitter as "More cruelty".
More cruelty: "Exclusive: Trump administration considering separating women, children at US border" https://t.co/pZ39m21D1z #Immigration
— Luis V. Gutierrez (@RepGutierrez) March 3, 2017
What will president Donald Trump do with his immigration policy? Will children really be separated from the mothers who gave birth to them? Only time will tell.
