This petition begins with a personal story that is unfortunately all too common. Maya and Sebastian Liang, aged 15 and 11 respectively, were forcibly taken to a reunification camp by police acting on behalf of their abusive mother. This is not an isolated incident; there are countless stories like this one, each as heartbreaking as the last.

In Florida, it's legal for children to be forcefully sent to these camps under the guise of family reunification. These camps are supposed to help families resolve conflicts and rebuild relationships. However, they often do more harm than good, especially when children are sent against their will.

According to research conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), forced separation from familiar environments can have detrimental effects on a child's mental health. The APA also found that such traumatic experiences can lead to long-term psychological issues such as anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Furthermore, these practices undermine the general welfare of our youth by exposing them to potentially harmful situations instead of providing them with safe environments where they can thrive.

It's time for us to stand up for our children and demand change. We must urge lawmakers in Florida to reconsider laws allowing forced detainment in reunification camps and prioritize child welfare above all else.

It has also been shown that children as young as 7 forced into “camps'' with an abusive parent, held captive until they admit that the abuse they were subjected to never happened. Run by unqualified individuals who see a way to profit off of the family court system, reunification camps hold children until they can convincingly feign affection for the parent that oftentimes controlled them, harmed them, sexually abused them or was abusive to their other parent in front of them. 

Please sign this petition today if you believe that every child deserves safety, respect, and love - not fear or forceful detainment. Let's make sure no more children suffer like Maya and Sebastian did. For the better of not my state but our state.