Over the past few months the news has been full of immigrants who have been separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. The practice of separating families has not ended, but the legal battles continue. Recently reunited families have been deported immediately, leading to more traumatic events in the lives of immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S and family immigration.
A judge has suspended the deportations of recently reunited immigrant families. While the government continues to seek out parents for the children that were separated at the border, they also engaged in rapid deportations of reunited families. A U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of California has halted deportations and has asked the U.S. government to respond to the ACLU’s request to give reunited families one week to decide whether they will leave their child in the U.S. to pursue asylum separately from their parents. The government argues that the rapid deportation after a family is reunited leads to more room in detention centers and allows more families to be reunited. There are still over 70 children who have not been reunited with their parents. The immigrants were facing asylum after dangerous and abysmal conditions in their home countries of mainly Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
Seeking a better life in the United States is what millions of immigrants have done for hundreds of years. The U.S. is a country where immigrants were once welcomed and seen as valuable members of society. Immigrants contribute to many facets of our society, including agriculture, hospitality, business, etc. When families are threatened with deportation they can feel scared and alone. A legal professional who specializes in immigration can help a person who is facing an immigration challenge. An attorney understands the complicated immigration law and can make sure their client’s legal rights are protected.
The process of separating families at the border was cruel and unnecessary. It is important that immigrants understand their legal rights and are offered the chance to stay in the country legally.
