In 1948, in the aftermath of World War II and with the crimes of the Holocaust fresh in mind—including the separation and destruction of families—the United States ratified the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Man. One of its foremost principles identifies the family as the “natural and fundamental group unit of society,” recognizing that it is “entitled to protection by society and State.” In the same year, the U.N. also declared that children must be protected “beyond and above all consideration of race, nationality or creed.” 

It is heartbreaking and unacceptable that the United States is now violating its own principles to cynically separate children from parents in a misguided attempt to win a political fight over immigration issues. Breaking up families and denying children the loving care of their parents cannot be justified by border security arguments. Our government must find ways to uphold the rule of law without resorting to shameful strategies that violate fundamental human rights and dignity.

It is time for us to live up to our highest ideals in order to make the world safe from human rights abuses. Please take the time to contact our U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representatives https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials and tell them to oppose the administration’s family separation policy.