U.N. Tells U.S. to Stop Separating Migrant Children from Parents

What’s the story?

• The United Nations human rights office has called for the Trump administration to “immediately halt” its policy of separating children from their parents after crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.
• “The practice of separating families amounts to arbitrary and unlawful interference in family life, and is a serious violation of the rights of the child,” rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in Geneva.

“Children should never be detained for reasons related to their own or their parents' migration status. Detention is never in the best interests of the child and always constitutes a child rights violation."

Trump administration hits back

• U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley accused the U.N. of “hypocrisy” for calling out the U.S. “while it ignores the reprehensible human rights records of several members of its own Human Rights Council.”

"We will remain a generous country, but we are also a sovereign country, with laws that decide how best to control our borders and protect our people. Neither the United Nations nor anyone else will dictate how the United States upholds its borders."

What do you think?

Do you support the U.S. policy of separating children from their parents? Is it a good deterrent against illegal immigration? Or is it an “unlawful interference in family life” and a “serious violation of the rights of the child”? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: Bestgreenscreen / iStock)