The soul of our country is literally drowning in the tears of mothers and children crying in the night in cages after being torn from each other by uniformed guards, with no explanation and little or no hope of reunion. Men are begging for the simple decency of being allowed to take a shower. Children huddle in cages on gym mats under thin space blankets staring shellshocked into space with no books, games, or relief from the fear and boredom. As Elizabeth Warren put it in her post on Facebook about her visit to the detention center in McAllen "The stench – body odor and fear – hits the second the door is opened."
CNN published an investigative report on June 21st detailing just some of the shocking abuses these children are experiencing in these facilities. Allegations include unsanitary conditions, exposing children to dangerous levels of heat without a\c, inhumane restraint use, forced medication without proper parental consent, depriving children of clothes, taunting, abuse, and threats. It's truly shocking to consider that this is happening on US soil.
American Academy of Pediatrics Dr. Colleen Kraft says that separating families at the border is "a form of child abuse". In the interview below she details what she saw when she visited one of these facilities caring for children under the age of 12, and explains the potentially devastating long term affects these children may face:
These children and adults will be living with emotional trauma from being subjected to this treatment for decades to come. Traumatized by this system, unfamiliar with the procedures involved, and without any sort of legal representation, parents and children stand very little chance of getting any sort of due process or seeing their family again. As Elizabeth Warren pointed out "this is far from over". The repercussions of these abuses will be unfolding for decades to come.
Please contact your Elected Officials at Local, State, and National levels and demand that these human rights abuses end.
Post Written by Andrea Hughes
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