June 20 2018
Original article can be found here at the Millennial Spectator by Melanie Haid.
What is the “zero tolerance” policy?
President Donald Trump kept his promise of filtering out illegal migrants from the United States through his “zero tolerance” policy, which states that all adults that illegally enter the country are to be prosecuted, directed by the Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding the Southwest border of the United States.
This specific center in Texas, the McAllen Immigration Detention Center, is the largest of these facilities, holding a maximum of 1,500 people.
This separates families, specifically children from their parents, causing recent uproar on grounds of immoral and inhumane conduct. The reasoning behind this separation is the apparent inability to determine whether or not they are the true guardians of the children as well as determining whether or not they pose a danger to these children.
How many people are estimated to be illegally living in the US?
While there is no exact number citing how many people are illegally living in the United States because they are not documented, it is estimated that roughly 12.5 million people are living in the country illegally. However, this number is an estimate, because since illegal immigrants are not documented, there is no way of knowing this exact number, but both children and adults are quickly being detained under this new policy.
As of now, over 11,000 children are being held in more than 100 shelters in 17 states, awaiting their uncertain futures without their parents’ guidance.
After migrants are detained, they are presented in front of a judge in the Department of Justice and charged with the criminal case of illegal entry. They are then transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and may be subject to removal from the country. Children can be given individual claims or protection or relief from removal in certain circumstances, but may undergo different, separate immigration proceedings than those of their parents.
What happens to those detained in Border Patrol Facilities?
When people are illegally residing in the United States, their children are separated from them when they are taken into custody. This has recently been solidified with the “zero tolerance” policy and more attention is being brought to the issue as images are being released showing children being kept in cages. The Department of Homeland Security writes that there are many reasons for this separation, specifically that it allows for more cohesion.
How do US citizens feel regarding these “zero tolerance” measures?
Six lawmakers visited a Texas Border Patrol facility on Sunday and there has been major outcry regarding the separation of migrant families under this policy. Along with this facility, there are thousands of children being detained as well and separated from their families due to their illegal status in the country, and it is not clear if they will be reunited after they are processed.
Lead photo courtesy of AP via Politico.
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