Children Are Still Being Separated from Their Families at the BorderUnited States immigration law allows people who are fleeing violence and persecution to request asylum at or near the border. And in a shameful chapter of our recent history, the United States intentionally separated children from their parents to deter families from exercising this right.
Though family separation is no longer explicitly used as a weapon in U.S. immigration policy, it is still a horrifying result. Over the past decade, hundreds of thousands of children have come to the United States without their parents, and we have not built a system to receive them with compassion and respect. In fiscal year 2021, a record 122,000 children were taken into U.S. custody without their parents. But far too many of them could have safely remained with their parents or other family members if the United States had better systems, policies, and practices.