Separated 10/5/2024

                                                                 Separated

The new documentary Separated sheds light on one of the darkest chapters of U.S. immigration history: the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy, which resulted in the separation of over 5,500 children from their families. These families, primarily fleeing violence in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, were seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Yet, instead of finding refuge, they were torn apart, with the government using children as pawns to deter future migrants.
What’s even more horrifying is that, five years later, over a thousand children remain separated from their families. This deliberate cruelty was not just a political misstep, but a human rights violation—an act of child abuse disguised as law enforcement.
While Separated points to Trump’s direct role in exacerbating this crisis, we must remember that this inhumane approach to immigration didn’t begin with him. Both Democratic and Republican administrations have implemented deterrence-based policies that prioritize fear over compassion, with Democrats like Obama deporting more individuals than any other president in history. The sad truth is that our immigration system has long been broken, and neither party has been innocent.
What makes this policy particularly egregious is that there was no plan to reunite these families. Officials knowingly created orphans, leaving many children permanently separated from their parents. The trauma inflicted on these children, many of whom were under the age of five, is unfathomable. This is not the America that we aspire to be.
The documentary serves as a reminder of the profound need for immigration reform, one that prioritizes humanity and rejects cruelty. We cannot allow such policies to continue or, worse, be reintroduced under future administrations.