These days, with the spiral tightening, so to speak, I've been working daily to lift myself above the mayhem happening in our country and around the world, so I can direct energy toward a positive vision of the future and right action. But this particular story has hit me hard:
For those who can't access the link, here is an excerpt:
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told Congress that within 48 hours of being taken into custody the children are transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services, which finds places for them to stay.
“They will be separated from their parent,” said Democratic Sen Kamala Harris.
“Just like we do in the United States every day,” Nielsen replied.
Except that the states, unlike the federal government, have systems in place to better screen the people who become guardians of the children and much better ways to keep track of those children.
And not lose them.
That is what happened to 1,475 minors swept up at the border and taken into custody by the federal government.
Gone.
Reports are emerging that some of these children could have been delivered into the hands of human traffickers. They may never see their parents again.
Friends, I'm sick over this, and there is nothing I can do. The evils being committed by this administration are becoming increasingly hard to bear. What can we, as a community of seers, do?
We can send positive energy to the judge who's overseeing the lawsuit which seeks to rule separating children from their parents unconstitutional. The decision should come out any day now. The administration will probably appeal, but we can send energy to the appellate judge. Actually, we can all send loving, positive energy to the entire federal judiciary. They're pretty much what's standing between the administration and its quest to subvert the constitution. Pray for all of them.
This story should help alleviate some of the concerns about the missing children (not so much the ones who are being taken from parents, but the ones who arrived here as unaccompanied minors.) https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/5/28/1767733/-Please-Stop-Sharing-That-Story-About-1500-Kids-A-PSA-by-Josie-Duffy-Rice
Marley, thank you so much. I do feel a small sense of relief. There are so many issues circulating with regard to how migrant children are currently being dealt with that they are overlapping and creating misconceptions about where the real points of pain are.
For those who can't access the link, it basically points out that "missing children" and separating children from their parents at the border are two separate issues, and only one merits serious alarm. When ORR releases children, they are generally placed into the custody of well-vetted people, such as extended family. After that, they don't track the children, which is technically a desirable outcome, since you don't want post-surveillance on these kids if it means it could impinge on their freedom or put them at risk of being wrongfully detained by ICE later on. Separate to that issue is that children are being torn away from their parents at the border, often becoming victims of abuse and negligence in concentration camp-type facilities. The latter situation is horrifying and heartbreaking.
At the heart of all this is the overt racism and xenophobia that seems to be driving ICE's activities. I don't use the term "Gestapo" lightly, but their activities are frighteningly familiar. I am putting their leadership in prayer in hopes they may awaken to what they are doing (while also putting calls in to my representatives and senators to act). If anyone would like to join me in this, they can be found here: https://www.ice.gov/leadership
For some reason, my last sentence deleted:
Thank you, also, to Zoron and Lynnventura for offering solutions at a time when solutions seem unreachable. It gives me hope. <3
While these stories are heartbreaking to hear, they're not new. This kind of stuff has been happening for decades, centuries. Slaves were separated from their children, Japanese Americans were forcibly sent to internments camps (by Roosevelt, who most Americans hold in high esteem), Mexicans and Mexican Americans (many of them American citizens) were forcibly repatriated during "operation wetback" by order of president Eisenhower. If there is anything positive it's that it's out in the open and not hidden. Americans are forced to see it on TV and can't pretend it's not happening. Mobilize, demonstrate, vote, pray, all of the above. For a better world.