Lack of US Border Accountability: Pacific Standard
Lack of US Border Accountability: Pacific Standard
Read the article on laws protecting migrant children from Pacific Standard.
Jack Herrera is an editorial fellow at Pacific Standard, covering immigration from a human rights perspective. His writing has appeared in USA TODAY, CityLab, and elsewhere. He's a graduate of Stanford University.
Read about “How to Help Detained Children” from Motherly.
Also read the editorial from the New York Times: “There’s No Excuse for Mistreating Children at the Border. Here’s What To Do About It.”
Summary of Recommendations for US citizens who want to improve conditions for migrant children:
• Call your congressional representative to offer your definition of “safe and sanitary”: US Capitol switchboard, 202-224-3121.
• Raise awareness online about the threat of unsanitary conditions and the potential for the spread of disease in the wider population with blog posts and social media messages.
• Talk with friends and neighbors about the issue, encouraging them to make their own calls.
• Donate to organizations that help migrant families, such as the American Civil Liberties Union and The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services.
• Emphasize kindness and compassion within your family and circle of friends: "Caring for these children is not a partisan issue, it's an issue many parents all over the political spectrum are grappling with," explains Heather Marcoux for Motherly. "Many have differing opinions about how to resolve the issues at the root of this problem, but many parents can agree that if their child was in this position they would want them to be shown some kindness.”
• Document raids, arrests and detentions in your area, and reach out to community leaders.
• Follow the issues; speak up, holding political candidates accountable and demanding transparency; and vote.