Campaign Action
Tuesday, Sept. 11, marks 47 days since Judge Dana Sabraw’s July 26 deadline, yet the Trump administration has continued to slow-walk migrant family reunification, leaving hundreds of kidnapped migrant children still separated from their parents.
According to updated numbers, the Trump administration still has 416 children under U.S. custody, including 14 kids age 5 and under. The parents of 304 of those children have already been deported, including six kids age 5 and under.
Under the previous update, the officials had 497 children under custody, including 22 kids age 5 and under. Weeks past a court order, the numbers are barely moving, and when every day in custody is another day of trauma, this is unacceptable.
Additionally, under the updated numbers, 199 children are still under U.S. custody because their parents “indicated desire against reunification or waived reunification rights.”
But according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), “many parents” did so under duress and did not understand what they were signing. With families still separated in blatant violation of a court order, family separation remains a crisis.
“Judge Sabraw, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you,” said immigrant rights leader Frank Sharry. “Please continue to stand up for what is right and decent. Please call the top officials responsible for this dark chapter on the carpet. Please consider holding DHS Secretary Nielsen and HHS Secretary Azar in contempt. It’s time, once again, for dramatic action to end this horrible chapter and this ongoing suffering.”