Trump Administration Fails to Meet the Deadline

Today, Define American published an op-ed in Bustle, highlighting the audacity of the government's failure to honor their promise to reunite children they needlessly separated from their parents at the border. Despite the headlines about children being reunited with their parents, make no mistake: Far more families are still separated then have been reunited. As of July 23, only 1,012 children between the ages of 5 and 17 out of 2,551 had been reunited with their parents. 463 migrant parents have been deported without their children, and as of July 26, the government has no defined plan to reunite their children who remain in detention on American soil. The government anticipates that it will have reunited all 1,637 families deemed “eligible” for reunification. This is outrageous given that the government has separated nearly 3,000 immigrants. Being a parent is an awesome responsibility, loving a child is an incredible joy, and the loss of a child is an unspeakable trauma. Yet here we are as a country grappling with a horrendous truth, we have separated mother from son, father from daughter, in some cases with no plan or ability to reunite them. This is a moment when we can define “American” as a place of welcome and hope, or where it can be defined by the separation of families and internment of children. The contrast could not be more clear, and the correct choice could not be more obvious. This government must act NOW and #ReuniteEveryChild. We will not stop putting pressure on them. Share this Op-Ed on your social media platforms with the #ReuniteEveryChild.