Mayors of Four Major Cities Condemn Administration’s Family Separation Policy

Los Angeles, California—Human Rights First today praised a letter sent by Mayors Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, Sylvester Turner of Houston, Jonathan Rothschild of Tucson, and Tim Keller of Albuquerque condemning the Trump Administration’s policy of separating refugee and migrant children from their parents at the border. The letter also calls on the secretary of homeland security and attorney general to end this cruel policy immediately.

“We are heartened by the bold stand these mayors have taken to rebuke this inhumane policy of the Trump Administration. Human Rights First attorneys and our pro bono partners are working hard to protect families that come to the United States to seek asylum and to assist them in reunifying with their children,” said Los Angeles managing attorney Jenna Gilbert.

The mayors’ letter comes as the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also called on the United States to immediately stop its practice of separating families at the border, calling it “a serious violation of the rights of the child.”

Human Rights First has documented the mistreatment of asylum seekers along the border and attempts made by this administration to violate their legal right under U.S. and international law to seek protection. The organization’s recent research suggests that while the administration claims that only those families who illegally cross between ports of entry will be separated, families who follow the law and present themselves to border officials seeking their legal right to asylum have also been separated.

“Our cities are on the front lines of this policy, witnessing the immediate human impact of tearing children from their parents. Our country needs more leadership like that of Mayors Turner, Garcetti, Rothschild, and Keller, who have made clear that this policy is clearly not in line with our laws nor our American values,” added Houston managing attorney Laura Nally.