United Methodists fight separation of immigrant families
File photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS. A person standing in the United States reaches their hand toward Mexico along the border fence at El Faro Park in Tijuana, Mexico, in 2012. United Methodists are joining opposition to a new “zero tolerance†policy that is separating immigrant families.
Update (June 20, 2018): By Sam Hodges, Erik Alsgaard and Heather Hahn | UMNS
United Methodist leaders expressed relief at President Trump’s executive order ending the separation of parents and children apprehended crossing into the U.S. illegally.
But they cautioned that details of any policy shift are important and stressed that the executive order isn’t enough.
Read the full [June 20, 2018] update here.
[June 13, 2018:] As families seeking asylum in the United States come face to face with the nightmare of being separated from their children, many United Methodists are crying out to stop this new “zero tolerance” policy.
In announcing the new policy in May, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said, “If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law. If you don't like that, then don't smuggle children over our border. Read the full story here.
The United Methodist Council of Bishops joined with other faith leaders in asking the U.S. government to stop separating immigrant families. The letter signed by twenty faith leaders, including Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, Jr, president of the Council of Bishops states, "Tearing children away from parents who have made a dangerous journey to provide a safe and sufficient life for them is unnecessarily cruel and detrimental to the well-being of parents and children." Read the full letter here.
