Protect Immigrant Families and End Family Separation

We urge Congress to act immediately to protect the fundamental human rights of migrant families and ensure that no child is ever taken from their parent because of immigration status. Recent reporting by The Associated Press has revealed that the federal government has established at least three “tender age” shelters — facilities specifically to house very young children separated from their families at the U.S. border, including infants and toddlers. These shelters were created as part of policies that separate children from their parents upon arrival, often without clear information about when or if families will be reunited. Separating children from their parents, particularly at the earliest stages of life, inflicts severe emotional trauma and undermines the physical and psychological well-being of vulnerable children. Decades of child-welfare research show that children thrive best when cared for by their parents or primary caregivers, yet these “tender age” facilities institutionalize very young children apart from their families. We believe this practice is antithetical to American values and basic human decency. No government should have the authority to sever the bond between parent and child based on immigration status — period. Accordingly, we call on Congress to: 1. Pass legislation that permanently prohibits the separation of children from their parents for immigration enforcement purposes. 2. Ban the use of so-called “tender age” detention facilities or any other shelters that house children away from their families. 3. Ensure due process protections for all migrant families and humane alternatives to detention that keep families together as they pursue their legal claims. Children are not bargaining chips in policy debates. Our nation must not criminalize families seeking safety and opportunity. Congress must act now to uphold human dignity and keep families united.