Not Dead Yet Condemns Family Separation At the Border

Not Dead Yet joins with other organizations representing the national disability community, as well as numerous civil and human rights groups, in condemning the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border.

We have already seen stories of disabled children experiencing the effects of this cruel and horrific policy. Some are included in statements issued by our colleagues in disability rights:

  • Statement from the American Assn. of People with Disabilities is at this link
  • Statement from the Arc of the United States is at this link
  • Statement from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is at this link
  • Statement from the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund is at this link
  • Statement from the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy is at this link

And we have heard the statements of child development and medical experts about the incredible psychological harm, profound emotional pain, insecurity, and post traumatic stress disorder for some, that will haunt the affected children far into the future.

News reports say that Trump just signed an order that the family separation policy will stop. This must happen immediately, and our government must do whatever it takes to reunite children with their parents as quickly and humanely as possible.

Sadly, we continue to fear that the administration is ill prepared to reunite families, reportedly having failed to keep track of the children they seized. We also fear that its plans for detention of families seeking asylum will continue a pattern of irreparable harm and injustice. The impact of these realities on children with disabilities is deeply concerning and, in some cases, where a parent’s knowledge of their child’s health is needed, it could be life-threatening.

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