Nearly 120 days past federal judge's deadline, migrant kids are still in US custody
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Campaign Action The administration could be starting up another humanitarian crisis without having resolved the one it already created. During a Senate hearing last week, Ronald Vitiello, Donald Trump’s nominee to lead Immigration and Customs EnforcemenNearly 120 days past federal judge's deadline, migrant kids are still in US custody
Campaign Action The administration could be starting up another humanitarian crisis without having resolved the one it already created. During a Senate hearing last week, Ronald Vitiello, Donald Trump’s nominee to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), refused to rule out whether the administration would officially revive the state-sanctioned kidnapping of children at the southern border, telling senators, “that option and that discussion is underway. But Monday, November 19, marks 116 days since a federal judge’s deadline ordering the return of children stolen from parents under the barbaric “zero tolerance” policy that Vitiello helped implement as the former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) chief, and kids continue to remain under U.S. custody, according to recent numbers. Of 25 kids eligible for reunification, tweeted MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff, the parents of 18 have already been deported. Some kids may never see their parents again, because a court filing also revealed that officials have a separate group of ninety-nine kids who have “deported parents who have chosen not to reunite,” Soboroff continues. Perhaps some parents felt their child deserved a chance here. Perhaps others were coerced into being deported, as reports have indicated. Look at this administration’s track record, there’s plenty of reason to believe it’s more of the latter. “Family separation doesn’t happen without Ronald Vitiello,” tweeted Rolling Stone’s Jamil Smith. “He fractured more than 2,500 immigrant families as the head of CBP. Now Trump wants him to run ICE.” Vitiello shouldn’t be rewarded with another top federal post for his role in this humanitarian crisis, and the Senate should reject his nomination. Just as importantly, vulnerable families broken apart at the southern border by the Trump administration must be reunited. Free the children and give them and their families a chance to live here in safety. Read more