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Women's Refugee Commission Commends Federal Court's Decision to Reunify Families

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) commended the federal court’s decision to reunify families that have been separated by the Trump administration. The court stated that all children must be reunited with their parents within 30 days and children under the age of five within 14 days and all parents must be able to speak with their children within 10 days. The court’s ruling is a result of an injunction that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed to stop separating families and to reunite them immediately.
Michelle Brané, the director of the Women’s Refugee Commission’s Migrant Rights and Justice program, made the following statement today about the court’s decision:

 “The Women’s Refugee Commission applauds the federal court’s strong and clear injunction ordering the administration to immediately cease separating families and to reunify the children who have already been separated from their families. The court’s decision further validates our position that no law exists to separate families and that the practice is in fact illegal. While this is not a final decision on the merits, the judge made clear that the position that this policy is unconstitutional is likely to prevail. These families have endured enough trauma and harm and should be reunited immediately.

“We call upon the Department of Homeland Security to immediately release parents in their custody so they can be reunited with their children as soon as possible. Family separation should never have happened in the first place. This administration is playing with the lives of children to use separation as a deterrent for asylum and to score political points. We find that abhorrent. Today’s ruling is an important step in the right direction, and we will continue to hold the Trump administration accountable in upholding America’s constitution and our values.”