Huffman: ‘Unacceptable’ practice to separate immigrant children from parents.

June 18, 2018

Rep. Jared Huffman blasted the Trump administration Friday for separating immigrant children from their parents, calling it “completely unacceptable and inconsistent with the values that make this country great.”

“Our government is putting children into facilities that are more like prisons, talking about tent cities that bring memories of internment camps — some of the darker chapters of our country’s past,” Huffman, D-San Rafael, said.

Huffman’s remarks, part of a celebration ceremony at San Rafael City Hall to welcome 60 new U.S. citizens from Marin, came amid reports that nearly 2,000 children have been separated from their families at the U.S. border over a six-week period during a crackdown on illegal entries, according to Department of Homeland Security figures obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

The separations were not broken down by age, and included separations for illegal entry, immigration violations or possible criminal conduct by the adult. Under a “zero tolerance” policy announced April 6 by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Department of Homeland Security officials are now referring all cases of illegal entry for criminal prosecution. U.S. protocol prohibits detaining children with their parents because the children are not charged with a crime and the parents are.

Huffman said statistics at the border were in stark contrast to the “hopeful” ceremony Friday to congratulate the 60 new U.S. citizens and to encourage them to register to vote and otherwise engage in the community.

“When I say I’m committed to comprehensive immigration reform, certainly that includes ending terrible practices like that (separation), while we work on providing legal status and a path to citizenship for millions of others,” he said to loud applause from the San Rafael gathering.

Since the separation policy was put into action, stories of weeping children torn from the arms of their frightened parents have flooded the media and the policy has been widely criticized by church groups, politicians and children’s advocates who say it is inhumane.

A battle in Congress is brewing in part over the issue, with broadcast news reports that President Donald Trump was publicly blaming the Democrats over the situation, while House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, was accusing the Trump administration of tearing up families for political effect.

Meanwhile, Friday’s ceremony in San Rafael, organized by the local nonprofit Canal Alliance, was an important first step for the Latino community in Marin toward becoming empowered politically, said Alliance executive director Omar Carrera.

Carrera was active in the recent decision process in which San Rafael City Council members will be elected by districts, instead of citywide starting in 2020 — a move that is expected to provide more civic participation options for the city’s Latino community in local boards, commissions and elected office.

“We have the opportunity to start shaping the system so that it works for us,” Carrera told the gathering. “That’s the opportunity you now have as a U.S. citizen.”

Newly naturalized citizen Rosario Delgadillo Mejia addressed the group, expressing deep gratitude to Canal Alliance for helping her and her husband through the process.

“They took the time to call us and talk to us through the whole process,” Mejia said. “To me, Canal Alliance means professionalism, warmth and gratitude.”

Viri Acosta, engagement supervisor at Canal Alliance, said the organization offers at least four naturalization workshops a year and also works with clients one-on-one for free or minimal cost to offer legal advice and representation.

“We follow them over the whole process,” Acosta said. “It usually takes about a year.” Citizen applicants must pass an exam at the U.S. Immigration office in San Francisco, and then attend an oath ceremony at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, she said.

Huffman impressed on the new citizens the importance of their voices at the ballot box. He pointed to the local primary elections for Corte Madera Town Council, where one candidate was ahead by only one vote on election night June 5. Ballots are still being counted in that race.

“Your vote matters,” Huffman said. “It really does make a difference to be engaged and to cast your vote, both at the local level and in bigger races all the way up to our national elections.”


Source: by Keri Brenner