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Statement

This Must End: America’s Moms Horrified By Reports That Texas State Troopers Ordered to Harm Migrant Children and Families

July 19, 2023
Immigration

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Donna Norton, Executive Vice President of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on reports that officers working for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security initiative ordered law enforcement in his state to commit atrocities against migrant babies, children, and families:

“The reports that officers working for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security initiative ordered Texas state troopers to push asylum-seekers, including nursing infants and their moms, pregnant women, and young children, into the Rio Grande and to deny them water in the withering, life-threatening heat are absolutely horrifying. The reports include a young woman having a miscarriage while trapped in Gov. Abbott’s razor wire, and vulnerable asylum-seekers dying or suffering grievous injuries because of Gov. Abbott’s actions. Sadly, Gov. Abbott’s disgraceful record of demonizing and dehumanizing migrants, and his constant use of inflammatory rhetoric designed to foment hatred and cruelty, make these reports all too believable.

“We commend the state trooper/medics who refused to follow these orders and reported the atrocities, which are illegal, immoral and unacceptable. Everyone who ordered or participated in these human rights violations must be held accountable.

“America’s moms want every asylum-seeker to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect. Those who are fleeing violence and poverty in search of a better life must not be met with this kind of unspeakable cruelty. The atrocities Gov. Abbott’s policies cause must end.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.