AG asking for stories of family separation policy

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Trump administration's “zero tolerance” immigration policy has ignited a firestorm of controversy over the past couple of days and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is seeking Washingtonians who have been impacted by the child separation component of the policy to share their stories.

The U.S. Attorney General’s Office previously directed U.S. Attorneys to prosecute all adults who illegally enter the country even if they are accompanied by their children. Children whose parents are prosecuted are placed with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may separate a parent or legal guardian from his or her child for several reasons, including situations where DHS cannot ascertain the parental relationship, when DHS determines that a child may be at risk with the presumed parent or legal guardian, or if a parent or legal guardian is referred for criminal prosecution, including for illegal entry,” the DHS explains on its website.

The DHS states children in HHS/ORR custody are held in a “temporary shelter or hosted by an appropriate family” until the ORR can find a sponsor for the child and they can be released from federal custody. The zero tolerance policy has been a lightning rod for conversation, both negative and positive. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has consistently been an outspoken critic of many of the Trump administration’s policies and has filed or been apart of numerous lawsuits against the administration. Ferguson is asking Washington residents to share their stories if they personally or one of their family members have been either affected by the immigration policy or expect to soon be affected by it.

“For example, if a Washington resident is currently housing or will soon be housing a child who has been separated from his or her parents pursuant to this policy, we would like to know,” reads a press release from Ferguson’s office.

On Tuesday Ferguson joined over 20 other state attorney generals in a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in which they pleaded for the “harmful” policies to be reversed “immediately.”

“Policies that separate a child from his or her parent absent that level of inquiry, would not only be illegal under most state laws, but also may be contrary to the policy views of state legislatures and their constituents across this country,” reads the letter.

People who wish to share their story with Ferguson’s office are asked to call 1-844-323-3864.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.