The Missing Immigrant Children Of 2018

By Carolyn Martin


When it comes to news, most people think of it being good or bad. While this is the case, with the current political climate and the inception of fake news, it is up to individuals to fact check information. One area in which doing so is especially important is with regards to news about missing immigrant children.

The Attorney General Jeff Sessions zero tolerance policy is largely responsible for the current ongoing issue. As such, it has become clear that the Health and Human Services Department had no record keeping policies in place at the time of separation. Nor, had there been any discussion or plans on how to reunite families at a later date.

The crisis became more of an issue once pictures were distributed of children being held in dog cages or housed like prisoners in a chain link fenced area. Whether due to the large numbers, a lack of supervision or criminal activity, there has also never been well documented and known acts of physical and sexual violence against those awaiting asylum or deportation.

One of the most resounding calls for help was heard when it was noted that babies were being cared for by volunteers with basically no experience in child care. Whereas, there were other notations that many of the older children had been farmed out to human traffickers and labor farms. While there has been a great deal of denial with regards to these allegations, neither has there been any proof showing otherwise.

When looking back on this crisis in the future, there is no doubt the reflection on how the United States handled the situation will be a dark mark in the history of the Nation. For, most everyone in the country other than Native Americans had relatives whom immigrated from other countries through Ellis Island. After which, many became masons and bricklayers and worked to build the infrastructure of the county.

Some families have been reunited with the help of case workers or attorneys. While this is great for those individuals, there are still hundreds waiting in the wings whom the government is unable to reunite due to a lack of information. For, while the families were being separated, it appears no record keeping was taking place.

While Health and Human Services have been able to house some of the children with distant family members, others are now being housed in hot tents on a number of U. S. Military bases. One such example, is a base outside El Paso which often has temps of over 121 in Summer. At this location, many children are now living in tents with box fans being the only relief from the hot Summer heat.

While there are lessons to be learned with regards to the current situation, there will no doubt still be difficulties with regards to immigration and the Zero Tolerance policy set by, whom many believe to be, a very racist Attorney General. As such, it will be interesting to see how this issue and others will effect the upcoming mid-term and 2020 Presidential election.




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