An open letter to my three representatives in Congress:
As I write you, Independence Day fireworks are bursting in all their glory in New York City and Washington. Indeed, like you, I treasure the many freedoms of our great country with immense gratitude. However, it is hard to do so at this moment, when over 2,300 children are suffering from physical deprivation and emotional torture (a word I do not use lightly), illegal under both U.S. and international law. The New York Times recently reported a psychologist and a pediatrician who visited one of these deplorable border detention facilities noted that children are even being prohibited from giving one another physical comfort, not even a hug! Or, to quote an article in The Atlantic, “Children Cannot Parent Other Children.”
As such, I urge you to visit at least one of the Border Patrol detention camps and report what you have seen.
According to one civil rights group, RAICES, “Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Representative Ayanna Pressley came because they want to hear more than just what Border Patrol agents have to say. We know that Customs & Border Protection (CBP) practice is to cover up their unjust practices. That’s why the Congresswomen joined immigrant rights groups in touring a Border Patrol facility.”
I now call on you to join Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley and visit these facilities to see for yourself and to hold CBP and all representatives accountable.
Lady Liberty turns her back on immigrants. That is the thought that came to mind while gazing out the window of the Great Hall on Ellis Island, the gateway to America for so many immigrants (including my grandparents).
Upon hearing and reading reports of children being forcibly removed from parents seeking immigration asylum into the United States, a combination of tears and anger compels me to write this column. The promised piece on the leadership of children over the school-shootings crisis will appear in this space soon.
There is no other word for it: Taking children away from parents seeking asylum from countries plagued with deadly violence, such as Honduras, and taking them somewhere across the nation is inhumane. In fact, there are no words. Though government actions harmful to children are by no means new, civil liberties attorneys are declaring that the current situation is unprecedented, “cruelty with no bounds.” An article in the New Yorker, calls it a form of state terror. Medical and child-welfare experts point out that the emotional and psychological damage to these very young children is likely to be permanent.
What will happen to these children?
Chief of Staff John Kelly said in an interview on NPR, “The children will be taken care of—put in foster care or whatever.” In response to all the anguish along our southwestern border, Mr. Kelly, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and the President justify the actions of ICE as a means of deterrence. For parents fleeing their home countries out of fear of life-threatening violence? (And those minors being members of MS-13 and other gangs? Only a minute portion is involved, according to The Marshall Project.) Well, just days later, reliable news sources such as NPR’s Frontline report that some 1,500 children are “missing,” unaccounted for. What will happen to their distraught parents? The nightmare is unfathomable, yet it is actually happening.
The ACLU, acting on the findings of Lee Gelernt, the group’s Deputy Director of the Immigrants’ Rights Project (as featured in the MSNBC clip), regarding a mother from the Congo who was separated from her young daughter for months, recently filed a national class-action lawsuit,
All of us, not just as caring Americans, but as caring people, must speak up! Finding both elected officials is very easy; all information can be found at one place, at USA.gov. And be sure to include other notable people, such as Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, and Kevin K. McAleenan, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is easy to fall into despair. However, the collective “small” actions each of us – regardless of political affiliation – can do, such as writing letters and discussing this critical issue, both in person and online (such as in blogs or on social media) could well make positive change. Indeed, it is often the only thing that does.
Here is my letter. Please feel free to borrow as much as you like!
Upon hearing and reading reports of children being forcibly removed from parents seeking immigration asylum into the United States, a combination of tears and anger compels me to write. Taking children away from parents and taking them somewhere across the nation is inhumane, beyond words. Civil liberty attorneys are declaring that the current situation is unprecedented. Medical and child-welfare experts point out that the emotional and psychological damage to these very young children is likely to be permanent.
Chief of Staff John Kelly said on NPR, “The children will be taken care of – put in foster care or whatever.” Well, just days later, reliable news sources report that some 1,500 children are “missing,” unaccounted for. Members of the Trump Administration justify the actions of ICE as a means of deterrence. For parents fleeing their home countries out of fear of life-threatening violence? What will happen to these children? What will happen to their distraught parents? The nightmare is unfathomable, yet it is actually happening. This is not the America to which I pledge allegiance! This is not the land of the free!
Sir (Madam), I urge you to do everything in your power to take action with the agencies responsible for this abhorrent outrage. All of us, not just as caring Americans, but as caring people, must speak up!
The ACLU, acting on the findings of Lee Gelernt, the group’s Deputy Director of the Immigrants’ Rights Project (as featured in the MSNBC clip), regarding a mother from the Congo who was separated from her young daughter for months, recently filed a 
Janusz Korczak - Pediatrician, Writer, Educator, Orphanage Director, and Children's Advocate 