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Experts, Advocates: We Must Protect Migrant Children

 

A recording of today’s call is available here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Changes the Trump administration is demanding to a law designed to protect children will expose children to more danger, including from human traffickers, experts and advocates said on a press call today.

Speakers on the call discussed the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), and what they would mean for unaccompanied migrant children. The Forum also introduced a new working paper on border, asylum and other policies to help address Central American migration.

The following are quotes from speakers on today’s call:

Wendy Young, President, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND):
“Under the falsehood of saving children from human trafficking, the administration wants to remove protections in the TVPRA, which would increase children’s danger of being trafficked. The TVPRA, which was enacted by unanimous consent, takes into account the trauma that they have experienced and establishes basic standards for adequate and immediate support. Like family separation, amending the TVPRA is unnecessary, ineffective and cruel.” 

Kit Danley, President, Neighborhood Ministries, Phoenix:
“As a faith-based organization, there’s so much to say about how our faith informs our work with unaccompanied minors. The Scriptures are emphatic, demanding God’s people show mercy. We join all of those in our nation who are saying, ‘Who will protect these children?’ We must protect the TVPRA, which is the only law we have right now to protect these children.”

Adam Estle, Director of Field and Constituencies, National Immigration Forum, and former director, Refugio Phoenix center for unaccompanied minors:
“The protections for unaccompanied minors under TVPRA represent the best of our nation’s values. Stripping these protections not only would exacerbate the issues for families and children attempting to flee violence in the Northern Triangle countries, but would create an additional humanitarian crisis in Mexico, where these children probably would remain. Continuing to care for unaccompanied minors is a moral imperative and an opportunity for our country to show moral leadership in the world.”

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