29, June 2018

USA: Thousands protest family separation 0

Over 1,000 people protested outside the federal courthouse for the Southern District of Texas in Brownsville on Thursday, decrying the separation of undocumented children from their parents.

Actor Jay Ellis speaks at a rally against the Trump administration’s immigration policies at Linear Park near the federal courthouse in Brownsville, Texas, on June 28. (AFP)

 

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Campaigns Director Natalie Montelongo was attended the protest. She said: “there was a recent injunction that happened two nights ago that demanded that children under five be reunited within 14 days and the rest of the children within 30 days, but we must continue vocalising our views and mobilising in action to make sure the administration implements that.”

Another protester, Ryan, said that it was fundamental that people start taking action. “We absolutely have to occupy spaces. This won’t be done through voting anymore. We cannot turn this around through legislation or bureaucracy”, he said.

The immigration policy which entailed separating children from their parents as the parents awaited trial caused intense criticism both within the country and abroad. Trump eventually signed an executive order allowing children to remain with their parents as they wait for trial.

Source: Ruptly