Familias Unidas, No Divididas

Just this week, the president signed an executive order ending the separation of families, but this order does not change the fact that thousands of children were stripped away from their parents and placed in detention centers without knowing what was happening to them. Children so young they cannot yet speak, and so cannot tell their custodians the names of their parents if the paperwork gets lost. Separating families at the border is a deplorable action and does not represent the teachings of Christ.

On Saturday, June 30, there will be a national rally in DC, Families Belong Together, to show support and increase public pressure for immigration and refugee justice. There are other events planned across the nation, several in NC. Click here to find an event near you and join thousands of North Carolinians as we march to show support for these families who have been inhumanely detained at the border and separated from their children. We must continue to advocate until all these families are reunited.

The president signed this executive order stopping the separation of families, but this order does not account for the thousands of children who have already been separated from their families. It does not account for the parents who have already been deported while their children are still detained. When will we see these families united and not divided? Familias unidas, no divididas. We must continue to advocate for these families until every single child is reunited with their loved ones.

Scripture tells the “Children of Abraham,” and we are they, to welcome the stranger, to show hospitality, for we were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. Likewise, the United States is a nation that praises family and freedom. For these reasons, we should be helping these families instead of separating them. Many are coming to this country to escape the dangers in their home countries. They have no other option to keep their families safe. Even if this order stops families from being separated, it does not address the almost 2,000 children who have already been separated and it does not address the underlying problems with our immigration and refugee policies.

Action still needs to be taken, we still need to speak up for those who are not being heard. We must tell our representatives that we will continue to advocate for these families until every last child is reunited with their family. We achieved this order through public pressure and we must continue this advocacy. Take action and march with thousands of people on June 30th to show your support for these families at the border.