While families seeking asylum are allegedly no longer being ripped apart at the border, there is still the issue of reuniting the families who are already separated, and finding all the missing little girls particularly. As Kaiser mentioned last week, some immigrants are being offered the option to reunite quicker with their children if they sign documents agreeing to be deported afterwards. It’s unclear if there is a plan in place to reunite families or if this is just another cruel tactic to take advantage of traumatized parents.

Late last week, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and mayors from over 12 other cities tried to gain access to one of the detention facilities for children on the US Mexican border and were denied. Mayor de Blasio was appalled to learn that over 200 children had been sent from the border to New York, far from their families, in a process that was unknown and unaccountable to even government officials. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) was allowed to tour one of the facilities on the border and the scene she described is heartbreaking. She was visibly shaken up as she described “Children by themselves… all lying on concrete floors in cages.”

We also heard a rare story of a Guatemalan mother and her seven year-old son who were reunited thanks to a lawsuit filed against the US government. They were separated for a month and described harrowing conditions in the facilities along with emotional abuse and a lack of access to clean water.

As the details of these horrific conditions come out, we’re wondering what we can do to protest and raise awareness. On June 30th there are nation wide protests planned against the separation policy.

Protestors gathered in LA on Saturday at the Keep Families Together Rally and Toy Drive. Kristen Bell was one of the speakers, she’s been active in children’s causes for years, and I admire how blunt and clear she was. I can’t find video of her speech but here are some quotes:

The activists, who were joined by Hollywood actress Kristen Bell, called on US President Donald Trump to immediately reunite the children with their parents.

“To our current administration please hear this. Do not underestimate the love of family when you attack one family you attack all families and families fight back. And we won’t rest until those children are back where they belong,” Bell said.

Samantha Montes, a child care professional, said she was disturbed by the forced separation of families.

“Children know their parents are taken away and taken somewhere else and they don’t even know where they’re going,” Montes said.

Along with other activists and supporters, Montes gathered and donated toys for the migrant children and piled them up outside the building that houses immigration agencies.

[From ABS-CBN.com]

As for how reunification is going to happen, there are countless organizations and people who want to help in any way possible. Genetic testing companies 23andMe and MyHeritage have stated that they will provide free testing for separated families while working to limit government access to personal data. While it seems impossible to get the Trump administration to care about any children or families who aren’t white, we’re going to keep the pressure on until change is made. This is a dark time in our country and the least we can do is continue to speak out and protest.

photos credit: Backgrid