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Statement

REUNITE Act Is ‘Smart, Humane Legislation That Will Begin to Address the Horrors Our Nation Has Inflicted on Asylum-Seeking Families,’ Moms Leader Says

July 18, 2018
Immigration

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and executive director of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on introduction of the Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant, Toddler and Other Children Expeditiously (REUNITE) Act:

“At this moment when more than 2,500 migrant children remain forcibly separated from their parents due to the cruel and indefensible actions of the Trump administration, we thank and commend U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) for introducing the REUNITE Act in the United States Senate. This essential bill would require the immediate reunification of all families the Trump administration has callously torn apart, put protections in place for these families and establish a permanent system of coordination between agencies and non-governmental organizations to protect detained immigrants with children. 

“This is smart, humane legislation that will begin to address the horrors our nation has inflicted on asylum-seeking families. With medical professionals warning that children who have been torn from their parents are at risk of grave and lasting harm, the REUNITE Act would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish clear guidance describing how they will immediately reunite families that are still separated. It would prevent families from being incarcerated or detained indefinitely and it directs the Department of Justice, along with DHS and HHS, to create an interagency office to expedite the reunification of families. It would redirect $50 million from ICE for this work. 

“The moms of America are enormously grateful to the three Senators who introduced this bill. We urge every Senator to support it. Its passage should be an urgent priority for every member of Congress.”

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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, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to 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: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.