Halt Policy of Separating Children From Families

Two of the most progressive communities in the Coachella Valley — Palm Springs and Cathedral City — on Wednesday adopted identical resolutions opposing the Trump Administration’s policies of separating children and their families at the border and called on Congress to halt these inhumane policies and enact fair and humane comprehensive immigration reform.

The dual resolutions further call for an immediate halt to detaining immigrants and their children indefinitely – and prosecuting immigrants lawfully seeking asylum.

“It is important that Palm Springs join other cities and leaders in condemning the inhumane action of separating children from their parents,” Palm Springs City Councilmember Geoff Kors told Uken Report. “We have all heard the cries of the children and the heartbreak of the parents. The fact that the Trump Administration cannot even find some of the children, including some 5 years of age and younger, is shocking. As elected leaders we must speak out and use our voices to urge the end to these policies and the adoption of humane immigration reform. To stand by and say nothing as people lose their rights is not a Palm Springs value.”havevEven

Kors and Councilmember Christy Holstege asked for the Resolution to be put on the agenda.

Cathedral City Mayor Pro Tem Greg Pettis told Uken Report that, “Families have always been the bedrock of our society. Breaking families up is antithetical to our values as a nation. Even more so, Cathedral City is the most family-friendly city in the Valley. The Hispanic residents are scared. We will do what we need to do as a city to support and protect our community members.”

The Trump Administration recently implemented a new “zero tolerance” policy to separate children from their parents at border crossings and hold the children in large detention centers, according to the twin Resolutions. The new policy dramatically increases the number of vulnerable minors who are in U.S. custody without the protection of their families, resulting in 10,773 migrant children in U.S. custody as of May 2018, according to the United States Health and Human Services.

In practice, this policy has resulted in at least 2,000 minors who have been separated from their families since April 19, 2018, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has concluded that even brief detentions cause “toxic stress and trauma” and may lead to long-term medical and mental health risks for children.

Moreover, the Resolutions say President Trump has called for the elimination of constitutional due process for those seeking asylum.  Thus, the call for the halt to the inhumanity.

There are hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, including children, living in Riverside County including in Cathedral City and Palm Springs, according to the Resolutions. They are important and valued members of the communities, contribute to the neighborhoods, schools and workplaces. Halt the inhumanity is the constant drumbeat.

The Administration’s practices contravene the principles of Cathedral City, Palm Springs and California residents who value the dignity of humans, liberty, and justice for all.

Each city’s Resolution calls on Democratic Sens. Diane Feinstein and Kamala Harris and Democratic Congressman Raul Ruiz to take “all necessary” action to immediately discontinue the Trump Administration’s practices of housing minors who cross the border in detention centers and prosecuting and indefinitely detaining immigrants, including people lawfully presenting for asylum without due process.

Both Resolutions will be sent to President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Sens. Feinstein and Harris and Rep. Ruiz.