DHS Sued for Intentionally Separating Families at the Border

According to a recent news story, a man who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border with his 12-year-old son seeking asylum last November was forced to separate from his son while in detention, along with other fathers and their children. The man has appeared at the border seeking asylum because the MS-13 gang was forcing his son to join their gang and forcing his wife to be a sex slave for the gang. This man is one of the increasing number of Central American fathers who are attempting to cross the border with their children. Due to the mandate that children be held in the least restrictive environment possible, DHS has been forced to release many families as it has insufficient family units in which to house the fathers and children. Immigrant advocates suspect that by separating families at the border, DHS is sending a warning to immigrants who plan to present themselves at the border that they will be separated from their children if they do so. This policy has the effect of deterring immigrations from legally seeking protection from persecution, often forcing them to resort to unscrupulous and dangerous smugglers. Now, multiple advocacy groups have filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on behalf of the man and 14 other individuals who were separated from their children and families by DHS at the border. In their complaint, immigration advocates accuse DHS of separating families at the border as a means of punishing those who are lawfully seeking access to protection through the asylum process. The complaint also charges DHS with not only traumatizing families, but also jeopardizing their asylum claims, as they may lose crucial evidence as family members are separated and may longer be able to provide testimony on their behalf. In today’s climate of extreme immigration enforcement, detention may be a significant possibility for you or your loved ones, which can result in the separation of your family. If ICE has detained a family member or loved one, contacting an experienced California immigration attorney as quickly as possible can be essential securing his or her release and fighting deportation. Taking steps to fix an immigration problem from the outset is often much simpler than waiting until the last minute and attempting to remedy the situation. Call Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., at (510) 756-4468 today, and learn what we can do to help you through this situation.