澳彩开奖

WASHINGTON, D.C. 鈥� Three fathers who were forcibly separated from their young children by immigration officials have filed administrative claims against the United States to seek compensation for the lasting harm caused by the Trump administration鈥檚 family separation policy. The 澳彩开奖 (澳彩开奖) and Covington & Burling filed the claims on behalf of the families, who will continue to suffer damage to their mental, physical and emotional health for years to come.听
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鈥淭housands of children, parents and entire families will suffer the rest of their lives as a result of this administration鈥檚 intentionally cruel family separations,鈥� said Michelle Lapointe, senior supervising attorney at the 澳彩开奖. 鈥淭he government separated families with a full understanding of the extent of the unspeakable impact this would have on the victims, including vulnerable children. It did so not in spite of the harm it would cause, but because of it, and now the government must be held accountable. This is particularly important as we continue to receive reports of unjustified and illegal separations of families at the border, well after the practice supposedly ended.鈥澨�
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The filings detail the cruelty of both the practice of family separation and the treatment of these families while in federal custody. As has been well-documented, the intent of the family separations was to deter future migrants by deliberately subjecting immigrants in custody to harsh conditions that would ensure their suffering. The dehumanization of these families and other migrants is evident in the accounts of their treatment while in custody of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services鈥� Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).听
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Forcible parent-child separations have long been known to cause significant short- and long-term damage to mental, physical, and emotional health. Still, in the name of deterrence, the government indiscriminately tore immigrant children from their parents, sent the children thousands of miles away, refused to inform parents and children of each other鈥檚 whereabouts or well-being, refused to provide adequate means for parents and children to talk with each other, and failed to have any system for tracking the children or ensuring that families could ever be reunited. These claims are the first step toward holding the government accountable for the separations and the resulting serious trauma and suffering of the affected families.
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All three fathers who filed claims today struggled not knowing anything about their children鈥檚 whereabouts or wellbeing. Despite their extensive efforts to track down and contact their children, they spent days or weeks terrified that they would never see them again. Like other parents, they were pressured to either abandon their right to seek asylum or risk permanent separation from their children. Compounding these harms, the three fathers were deported without their children and had to wait months to be reunited.听 All three children continue to suffer from nightmares, separation anxiety, and behavioral problems. Their fathers and extended families also continue to suffer.
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The claims describe in agonizing detail the experiences of the fathers and children: their forcible separation, their suffering in custody for months, the deportation of the fathers without their children, and the ongoing fallout the families are enduring.听
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One father, identified as M.C.L. in the complaint, was forcibly separated from his 7-year-old son after they presented themselves at a port of entry and requested asylum in late 2017. The claim includes heart-wrenching details, including the forcible removal, M.C.L.鈥檚 struggle for information and efforts to reach his son, his deportation and his son鈥檚 daily battle as a result of the emotional trauma he endured during the nearly eight-month separation.
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R.Z.G. was forcibly separated from his 9-year-old daughter after they presented themselves at a port of entry and requested asylum in late 2017. During the nearly eight-month separation, he was tormented as he made repeated and unsuccessful efforts to track her down and as he went through indefinite detention and deportation without her. His daughter alleges that she was abused by immigration officials during the separation.听
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After being forcibly separated, H.P.M. and his 6-year-old daughter remained apart for 108 days. The claim includes excruciating details of the suffering they endured as a result of the separation, detention and inhumane treatment as well as notes from the young girl鈥檚 caseworkers regarding her extensive emotional trauma.听
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The 澳彩开奖 worked closely with , an organization that through its network of human rights defenders has facilitated the painstaking work of identifying parents deported to Central America without their children and assisting in the reunifications. Additionally, Justice in Motion has referred many families so that they can access justice for the harm they endured while separated.
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鈥淭he damage done to these fathers, their children and their entire families can never be undone,鈥� said Jay Carey, a partner at Covington & Burling. 鈥淏ut, those responsible for their suffering can and must be held responsible, and a message must be sent 鈥� especially to this administration 鈥� that such cruelty is unconscionable and will not be tolerated.鈥�
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鈥淭hese families continue to suffer trauma, as a result of the gross mistreatment by our government,鈥� said Justice in Motion Executive Director Cathleen Caron. 鈥淲e stand with these families as they seek justice for the harms they have suffered at the hands of the administration.鈥�
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Last summer, the 澳彩开奖 through its Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative (SIFI) worked with more than 40 families who were separated at the border and sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in Georgia and Louisiana. In April, the 澳彩开奖 and Covington & Burling filed complaints on behalf of two additional fathers who were also separated from their children. Those claims are pending. If the government fails to respond within six months or rejects the administrative claims, the fathers can sue the government in federal court.听
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Redacted versions of the claims can be found here:听
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H.P.M. and A.P.C.
M.C.L. and A.C.R.
R.Z.G. and B.Z.E.
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