Reunification for Migrant Children Deals Big Blow to Family Separation Critics

The Trump Administration has completed the court-ordered reunification of migrant children under the age of 5, who were impacted by the policy of family separation at the southern border. Of the 103 children under age 5 covered by the court case, roughly half were determined to be ineligible for reunification.

Only 57 children were determined to be eligible and have been reunified with their families as of 7:00 a.m. EST on July 12.

However, 46 migrant children were acknowledged by the court to be ineligible for reunification or determined by court-approved criteria from the Justice Department (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“Throughout the reunification process, our goal has been the well-being of the children and returning them to a safe environment,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions, DHS Secretary Kirsten Nielson, and HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a joint statement. “Our agencies’ careful vetting procedures helped prevent the reunification of children with an alleged murderer, an adult convicted of child cruelty, and adults determined not to be the parent of the child.”

Corporate media outlets and their allies in the Democratic Party have leveled severe accusations about the policy of family separation pertaining to illegal immigrants who refused to use a legal port of entry at the southern border. In June, they cheered a decision by a federal judge in California that ordered a halt to most family separations and reunification of all families.

“Plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits, irreparable harm, and that the balance of equities and the public interest weigh in their favor, thus warranting issuance of a preliminary injunction,” U.S. District Court Judge Dana Sabraw wrote in the decision.

Of those 46, a whopping 22 have been found ineligible due to safety concerns posed by the adults in question. Of those, 11 adults have a serious criminal history. That includes charges or convictions for child cruelty, kidnapping, murder, human smuggling, domestic violence, etc.

“Certain facts remain: The American people gave this administration a mandate to end the lawlessness at the border, and President Trump is keeping his promise to do exactly that,” read the joint statement. “Our message has been clear all along: Do not risk your own life or the life of your child by attempting to enter the United States illegally.”

“Apply lawfully and wait your turn.”

Seven of those adults were proven to not even be the child’s parent. Yet another adult had a falsified birth certificate. One was alleged to have abused the child, another one planned to house the child with an adult charged with sexually abusing a child and one is being treated for a communicable disease.

The remaining 24 migrant children are not currently eligible for reunification due to other negative circumstances surrounding the adults in question.

Of those, 12 adults have been deported and are being contacted, while 9 adults are in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service for other criminal offenses. Two adults are in custody of state jails for other various offenses and 1 adult’s location has been unknown for over a year.

“The American immigration system is the most generous in the world, but we are a nation of laws and we intend to continue enforcing those laws,” General Sessions, Secretary Nielson and Secretary Azar added. “Establishing the immigration system demanded of our political leaders by the American people for more than 30 years—one that serves the national interest—will allow our nation to further realize the foundation of freedom, safety, and prosperity we inherited from our Founders.”