Posts

The Arc logo

The Arc Responds to Executive Order on Family Separations

/in /by The Arc

Washington, DC – The Arc released the following statement in response to President Trump’s signing of an Executive Order on family separations.

The Executive Order directs the Department of Homeland Security to detain families together during the pendency of criminal proceedings for illegal entry or other immigration proceedings relating to any of the family members. It also instructed the Attorney General to file a request with the U.S. District Court for the Central Court of California to modify the Settlement Agreement in Flores v. Sessions to permit indefinite detention of children with their families, a practice that currently is not allowed.

“President Trump signed this Executive Order in response to massive outcries from across the globe about the heart-wrenching separation of children from their families at the US-Mexico Border. This Executive Order provides some relief for children, infants, and toddlers at the border as their parents and they undergo various proceedings regarding asylum, immigration, and deportation. However, it also creates new problems requiring the incarceration of children with their parents and families for an undetermined period of time while their cases are being decided.

“We are still in the midst of a civil and human rights crisis. Children who have already been separated from their parents should be reunited as soon as possible. This is an urgent situation for all children involved and in many cases irrevocable damage has already been done. For children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who rely on their loved ones for care, security, and support, particularly for their unique needs, it is of paramount importance they are reunited with their families.

“Incarceration for parents and families still carries risks of life-long trauma to the children in custody. Effective alternatives to detention – such as the Family Case Management Program – should be used so that families can provide a semblance of normalcy to children while their cases are being handled in the courts and agencies. We implore Congress and the Administration to find an alternative to the incarceration of innocent children. This nightmare for families is far from over and we remain deeply concerned about the impact this will have on children with and without disabilities,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc.

The Family Case Management Program is a possible alternative to incarceration for families. Unfortunately, The Family Case Management Program, a less restrictive program to assist families seeking asylum with very young children and others – was ended by the Administration in June 2017.

The Arc advocates for and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of nearly 650 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

The Arc logo

The Arc Responds to Escalating Situation at US-Mexico Border: “Families Belong Together and the Act of Tearing Them Apart Is Inhumane and Cruel”

/in /by The Arc

Washington, DC – The Arc released the following statement in response to the forced immigrant family separations that are occurring at the U.S.-Mexico border and news of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities being amongst those taken from their parents.

“With each passing minute, we reach a new low as the civil rights and values upon which our nation was founded continue to be betrayed. News of a young girl with Down syndrome being torn from her family is heart wrenching, yet what is garnering headlines is the callous response from those who support the actions of the Trump Administration. As we have said before – family separations are extremely traumatizing and damaging to children. Children with disabilities rely on their loved ones for care, security, and support, particularly for their unique needs. Unfamiliar border agents and other authorities who collect little information about the needs of a child with disabilities risk exacerbating disabling conditions and causing serious harm, in addition to the severe trauma of separation.

“Families belong together and the act of tearing them apart is inhumane and cruel. The Administration’s barbaric choices will undoubtedly traumatize children with and without disabilities. As this situation escalates, we call upon Congress to take action to ensure that these administrative practices are permanently prohibited. The Arc remains aligned with the immigrant community and the many organizations and individuals that have come out in opposition to this abhorrent practice,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc.

The practice of forcibly separating children from their parents can cause irreparable harm in a child’s development, resulting in disability. As noted by the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding these forced family separations, “In fact, highly stressful experiences, like family separation, can cause irreparable harm, disrupting a child’s brain architecture and affecting his or her short- and long-term health. This type of prolonged exposure to serious stress – known as toxic stress – can carry lifelong consequences for children.”

The Arc advocates for and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of nearly 650 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.