Lutheran Response of the Us Immigration Law and Family Separation
A boy in New Mexico kisses his father through the fence post-obit a 2014 Mass at the U.Due south.-United mexican states edge in Sunland Park, North.Grand. A study from two leading faith-based agencies serving immigrants entering the The states from Mexico and Fundamental America called on the federal authorities to end a policy of separating children from their families and assist families comply with immigration law. (CNS/Bob Roller)
WASHINGTON (CNS) — A written report from two leading faith-based agencies serving immigrants inbound the Us from United mexican states and Central America called on the federal authorities to terminate a policy of separating children from their families and assistance families comply with immigration law.
The study details the collaboration in July between the U.Due south. bishops' Office of Migration and Refugee Services and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service to aid more than ane,200 families to reunite afterwards children were separated from adults under the U.S. Department of Justice's "zero tolerance" policy.
The policy caused a crisis at the edge in the spring and summertime months this year as federal agents jailed adults crossing into the U.S. and placed the children who had accompanied them in detention centers, largely in Texas, Arizona and California.
The organized religion-based agencies mobilized in July to aid the departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services reunify separated families and provide shelter, food, clothing, counseling and case management.
Dozens of Catholic Charities and Lutheran social service agencies throughout the country also were involved in the reunification try.
Titled "Serving Separated and Reunited Families: Lessons Learned and the Style Forward to Promote Family Unity," the report outlines the agencies' response and offered a series of recommendations to the federal regime, the U.S. Congress, foreign governments and nongovernmental organizations to meliorate serve families traveling n to the U.S.
Information technology said that while trivial is known about how the forced separation of children and adults volition affect young people, initial reports from service providers "indicate that families are experiencing symptoms of trauma, including separation anxiety."
It also suggested alternatives to detention for asylum-seeking families, especially those who pose no threat to the country.
"Such alternatives are frequently preferable equally they avoid inflicting unnecessary and long-lasting trauma on children and families. Additionally, detaining families that practice not nowadays a flying or condom risk is an unnecessary employ of express (Department of Homeland Security) resources," the report said.
Leaders of both organizations welcomed the report.
"I am proud of the response of USCCB/MRS, LIRS and our Catholic and Lutheran partners around country, including my brother bishops, to be able to work with the administration to provide back up to those vulnerable families," Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, Texas, chairman of the bishops' Commission on Migration, said in a statement accompanying the Oct. 17 release of the study.
"I believe the recommendations made are important and should be seriously considered in order to avert pain and suffering in the future caused by the separation of families," he said.
In a separate statement, Kay Bellor, vice president of programs for LIRS, praised the agencies for stepping up quickly to aid families.
"As we have been for decades, communities of faith were there, poised and prepare, to love and serve our neighbors in need," Bellor said. "It is our deep hope that the lessons learned from this time in our history volition prevent the cruel separation of children from their parents from happening over again."
As of Sept. 27, nearly 2,300 families had been reunited, according to the report. Some of the reunited families remained in detention facilities, some were reunited in their countries of origin, and some were released to let them to travel to families and friends throughout the U.South.
The written report showed that the flow of immigrants from Mexico had eased, simply that refugees from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador shot upward in 2017 and 2018. It cited the growing violence from criminal gang and illegal drug networks in the iii countries as reasons cited by immigrants for seeking to enter the U.Southward.
MRS and LIRS also called for:
- Ameliorate coordination and data collection on immigrants throughout the government to allow for improved tracking of family unit reunification.
- The release of families during "normal just extended business hours" from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. to allow families to be safely transported.
- Reinstating family case direction that had been discontinued in 2017 after just 18 months of functioning in what originally was a five-year pilot program.
- Improved training for intendance providers.
- Expanding programs that address the causes of migration.
- Increased coordination amid assist agencies to better serve separated families.
- MRS and LIRS likewise encouraged the U.S. government to "commit to immigration policies that are humane and uphold each individual's human dignity. Such policies should also ensure compliance with clearing requirements and be fair to the U.S. taxpayer."
The full report can be accessed online at www.justiceforimmigrants.org.
Copyright ©2018 Catholic News Service/U.S. Briefing of Cosmic Bishops.
Source: https://www.archbalt.org/report-immigrant-aid-agencies-urge-end-to-family-separation-policies/
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