1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

Over the last several weeks, ICE has become a parent's worst nightmare: In Chicago, children were dragged from their beds in the middle of the night, zip-tied, separated from their parents, and put in trucks for hours. But now, ICE is targeting some of the most vulnerable children – those who came alone to the U.S. in search of protection or to reunite with their families. The administration has been taking these children away from sponsors, including parents, and putting them in detention. And now, as part of its latest operation, ICE is pressuring unaccompanied children to give up their rights to go to court and to abandon their applications for protection in the U.S. In some cases, children who have been taken from their families are reportedly told that their parents will go to jail if they don't sign a document and leave the U.S. This is abuse and is not how our country should ever treat children. Immigrant children who came alone to seek protection are already uniquely vulnerable. Many of these children have now been taken from their families and other sponsors and detained while they apply for asylum or other humanitarian protection or immigration status. Coercing these kids to give up their rights with the vague, unverified promise of money – and while they are alone and without a lawyer – puts these kids in danger and is beyond inhumane. You must act to stop ICE from taking advantage of vulnerable children in order to accelerate its mass deportation campaign. Every child should be treated with dignity and care. I urge you to take action to stop these abusive campaigns against children and put an end to the traumatizing, dehumanizing, and manipulative tactics that define current ICE operations.