Photo by Will Hedington via Wikimedia Commons
We’ve all seen the images of the migrant children who have been separated from their parents at the border and are living in pens in detention centers. We’ve read reports of their distraught parents, and of various government officials being turned away from the detention facilities. We’ve heard heart-wrenching audio of children sobbing for their parents, and of one young girl reciting a carefully memorized phone number and pleading to make a call to her aunt. And we’ve heard the stories of parents who have been deported without knowing where their children are being held or when they might see them again.
As a nurse, I worry about the acute and long-term health effects that this horrific experience will have on both parents and children.
As a mother, I cannot think about what these parents must be feeling without a knot forming in my stomach and my eyes tearing up—it’s a parent’s worst nightmare.
As a rational person, I cannot understand how any politician could think such actions would make for good policy.
As a citizen, I am grieved to see this unprecedented level of callousness, lack of empathy, and disregard for basic human decency from our government leaders. I’m ashamed that so many of who I thought were honorable people lack the courage to speak out and say, “This is not right.” I’m horrified that some officials said they were just enforcing the law—we’ve heard that during some of the darkest and shameful times in history.
As an American who is, like most Americans, a child of immigrants, I’m deeply ashamed that we are dishonoring our heritage as a nation that was built by immigrants, who, just like those we turn away today, were seeking a better life for their families.
Democrat or Republican or Independent—it doesn’t matter what one’s affiliation is—there’s right and there’s wrong, and one can’t be too much more wrong than forcibly taking children from their parents.
I hope all nurses will protest any action by the government to reinstate this policy or to abdicate its responsibility of reuniting the children with their parents.
Well said!!
Shawn Kennedy,
The actions of this current administration breaks my heart but I am utterly shocked and disgusted by the fact that the government decided that it was okay to separate children from their families. Separating children from their parents can have traumatic effects on the children and parents. The news reported that children as young as 6 months were taken away from their parents. This is heartbreaking because I can’t imagine being separated from my son at any age especially that age. Imagine the thoughts going through these parents head. They travel thousands of miles and put themselves in danger to search for a better life for their children only to be deported and have their children taken away from them. These parents are helpless and cant defend themselves or their children. They are just hoping for mercy from the government so that their children can be returned to them. As we speak, some children are still not reunited with their parents. Nursing professionals are aware of the disastrous effect that parental separation has on children and their families so they must spread the word and get others to oppose the cruel unjust decisions from this current administration. I agree with what you said, it doesn’t matter if a person is a democrat or a republican, there is right and wrong. We all have our different beliefs and opinions as human beings but we should not ever justify cruelty to our fellow human being.
I wish we lived in a world where everyone showed love to their neighbors. I wish we lived in a world where borders don’t exist. A world where there is universal peace and unity. Unfortunately, we don’t live in such a perfect world. Humans will continue to be cruel to one another but those of us who have some form of moral standards must speak up and fight against un-justice. We must stand up against evil and fight for the greater good. It might be the immigrants today but tomorrow it might be you. Don’t just stand by and watch others suffer because you are not being impacted directly. We want our children and grandchildren to live in a just and fair society so we must not remain silent. Our voices will be our weapon to uphold democracy and humanity and we will not be silenced!!
Separating children from their parents is creating a whole new set of issues aside from what might be there already. I am not saying that the immigrant population has issues.
Moving and separation of child and caregivers are right up there on the list of “Life Stressor Scale” adding more burden to our healthcare system.
Imagine a life of deprivation, fear, and hopelessness so great that it is better to leave your homeland and take your children through the dangers of a journey to an unknown place. And we, instead of offering shelter and solace, instead of giving them a chance to make their case for asylum, we treat these families as criminals and subject them to further abuse. I can’t imagine the fear and confusion these parents and children experience, on both sides of the border. As nurses we care for all people with dignity, compassion, and empathy and we advocate for the silenced and vulnerable. Now, with this situation, we’re needed more than ever.
It startles me that anyone would justify traumatizing children for any reason. I do wish the media would better cover the situation in Central America so we could see what these families are facing in the northern triangle. Maybe then some people would stop making false equivalencies. Parents in this country being separated from their children because they intentionally committed crimes and parents desperately fleeing from danger in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are entirely different situations. Parents committing crimes in this country know their children are cared for – usually with other family – and that they will be reunited after their release. Those parents know where there children are. There is an enormous difference between that and having this government tear your terrorized child away from you with the possibility that he or she will be permanently orphaned and the authorities cannot even tell you where your child is. And there is an enormous difference between purposefully breaking the law and seeking asylum from devastating violence, which is not illegal. Regardless of one’s political or ideological views, this should not be one more excuse for people to fight each other, blame each other, engage in what-aboutism, or continue with bitter divisions. This is government-sponsored child abuse. That should shock and sicken everyone. Especially nurses who know what the long term effects will be and can understand the irreparable harm this causes.
Thank you for this post. I am sharing it as widely as I can, not only because it is argued with such clarity and passion but also because polls show that American tend to respect and trust the opinion of nurses—for good reason. Many people are upset to see children separated from their parents, but too many are eager to gobble up deceptive reports from the present administration that reassure us everything is “lawful” and orderly, families being reunited. I’m grateful for this reminder that each and every American needs to know the full truth about what is being done in our name. And then each American needs to speak—and vote.
I saw pictures of this in 2014. Were you concerned then and did you write about it then and I missed it?
There are so many reasons separating children from parents is wrong. In addition to the moral issue, there are serious health consequences from trauma in childhood that creates lasting health issues. Nurses can rally behind the health consequences and public health emergencies this is creating.
Children are always separated from parents who commit jail worthy crimes.
Amen! Mary Anne Rizzolo
Bravo Shawn