The US Department of Homeland Security has requested comments from the public on how to prevent family separation. All of us were appalled by the cruelty of the Trump Administration’s family separation policy in 2018, where U.S. government agents intentionally ripped children from the arms of their parents with no plan to reunite them.
If we can get 1,000 lawyers and other advocates to take the small but crucial action of providing public comment, we can help ensure the U.S. government never separates families on our border again.
The more public comments that are submitted opposing family separation, the easier it will be to prove to a judge in future proceedings that the public is grossly opposed to this practice, and more likely we’ll collectively alter this policy. Unfortunately, there are a lot of pretty awful anti-immigrant comments that have already been submitted to this public comment, so we have a goal of 1,000 L4GG comments that support the dignity and human rights of all immigrants to help tip the balance.
The deadline for submissions is January 25, 2022 at 11:59pm ET.
Here’s how you can help:
Click here and submit a short, personalized comment about why you believe the Biden Administration should do everything within its powers to end this arcane practice. I’ve given some talking points below, but it is important that each comment is unique, so please write your comment in your own words.
Be sure to mention “L4GG” in your comment so that we can track your comments and celebrate our community's progress in fighting back. For example, you can sign your name as a “proud member of Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG).”
We strongly encourage those of you who have worked directly with separated immigrant families, for example, those of you who helped with Project Corazon’s response in 2018, to share anecdotes to help the public understand the harm these horrific separations caused.
Remember, the deadline for submissions is January 24, 2022 at 11:59pm ET, so don’t wait. Get your comment in as soon as possible.
Suggested Talking Points
Separating children from their parents creates unhealable trauma and irreparable damage.
Hundreds of families remain separated today.
What separated children have experienced is unconscionable. Nothing less than an immigration system based on respect and compassion can undo the damage caused by purposefully ripping a child away from their parents.
Family separation isn’t a partisan issue. It’s an injustice that needs to be mended.
Family separation disproportionately impacted families of color - ensuring it never happens again is a racial justice issue.