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Over these last several weeks, amidst a record-breaking heat wave with no end in sight, migrant children and their families crossing the Rio Grande in Texas have been met with state-sanctioned Troopers who have pushed children, babies, and nursing mothers back into the river and have prevented them from entering the United States, following orders from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his administration.
A Venezuelan 5-year-old, who traveled with his family across six countries and the dangerous Darien Gap got ensnared in a coil of razor wire, while officers stood and watched from above.
A 4-year-old girl passed out in 100-degree heat after the National Guard pushed the group she was in back towards Mexico.
This has to stop now. As someone who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, I can assure you that Greg Abbott’s actions do not represent the RGV community, which has come together over the years to demand that children and families be welcomed with compassion and care, not with inhumanity and disregard.
Together with local organizations, we’ve called on the Department of Justice to investigate Abbott’s inhumane treatment of immigrants, and on the Federal Government to stop providing any type of resources to aid Texas in these efforts.
Today Thursday, July 27th, LUPE will be hosting a day of action so you can add your voice to these demands. You can sign up to join them here.
At the Young Center, we are also working tirelessly through our policy advocacy and direct services to ensure that immigrant children and their families are welcomed and protected in this country. It will take all of us to fight against these human rights abuses and ensure that all immigrant children are treated as children.
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