Rights Action
January 22, 2020
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69,550 forced migrant children in U.S. custody, separated from parents, in 2019
(Report by Associated Press & PBS series FRONTLINE)
https://mailchi.mp/rightsaction/69550-forced-migrant-children-in-us-custody-in-2019
“Nine out of 10 come from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. They're fleeing Central America often to save their own lives, because violence and abuse, even murder, are committed with impunity under corrupt governments the U.S. has supported for decades.”
(The Associated Press & PBS series FRONTLINE)
‘International community’ helps keep cycle of violence, destitution and forced migrancy in place
As this inter-generationally harmful situation plays itself out with the broken families of 70,000 forcibly separated children, the U.S., Canada, Spain, the World Bank, IDB and global companies and investors deepen economic and military relations with the military-backed, corrupt regimes of Guatemala and Honduras responsible for the conditions that force 10s of 1000s of Central Americans (if not more) into exile every year.
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A Honduran father stands at his home in Comayagua on Aug. 23, 2019. He was separated from his 3-year-old daughter at the U.S. border after traveling to seek asylum. Elmer Martinez / AP file
COMAYAGUA, Honduras — The 3-year-old girl traveled for weeks cradled in her father's arms, as he set out to seek asylum in the United States. Now she won't even look at him. After being forcibly separated at the border by government officials, sexually abused in U.S. foster care and deported, the once bright and beaming girl arrived back in Honduras withdrawn, anxious and angry, convinced her father abandoned her.
He fears their bond is forever broken. "I think about this trauma staying with her too, because the trauma has remained with me and still hasn't faded," he said, days after their reunion.
This month new government data shows the little girl is one of an unprecedented 69,550 migrant children held in U.S. government custody over the past year, enough infants, toddlers, kids and teens to overflow the typical NFL stadium. That's more kids detained away from their parents than any other country, according to United Nations researchers. And it's happening even though the U.S. government has acknowledged that being held in detention can be traumatic for children, putting them at risk of long-term physical and emotional damage.
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Full article: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/u-s-has-held-record-69-550-migrant-children-government-n1080486?fbclid=IwAR3UorGCeuOWyPtVkSAZIn0qCCWDRCXy5_JLrsKFi629bkmqwrhqZCaN-HA
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Rights Action (U.S. & Canada)
Since 1995, Rights Action funds human rights, environment and territory defense struggles and projects in Guatemala and Honduras; funds victims of repression and human rights violations, health harms and natural disasters; works to hold accountable the U.S. and Canadian governments, multi-national companies, investors and banks (World Bank, etc.) that help cause and profit from repression and human rights violations, environmental harms and forced evictions, corruption and impunity in Honduras and Guatemala.
Get Informed / Get Involved
Act – Stir up the pot – Chip away
Keep sending copies of Rights Action information (and that of other solidarity groups/ NGOs) to family, friends and networks, politicians and media – always asking the question as to why our governments, companies and investment firms benefit from and turn a blind eye to poverty, repression and violence, environmental and health harms that caused the forced migrancy / refugee crisis in Guatemala and Honduras.
Other solidarity/ NGO groups in U.S. and Canada
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Tax-Deductible Donations (Canada & U.S.)
To support our land, human rights and environmental defender partner groups in Honduras and Guatemala, make check to "Rights Action" and mail to:
- U.S.: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887
- Canada: (Box 552) 351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A-1T8
