Targeting Children
A few weeks ago, we noticed that a lot of new immigration policy changes were impacting children:
Whether with their parents or as unaccompanied minors, kids are spending more time in detention centers than before.
Family members who want to sponsor them are being delayed, denied or detained when they come forward.
Kids' immigration claims are being denied faster than before, and hundreds of thousands have received deportation orders.
Contracts with attorneys who represented them have been cancelled, and toddlers are being brought to immigration court without anyone to speak for them.
Unaccompanied minors are being kept in Texas and Louisiana, and some advocates believe this may be the beginning of larger scale efforts to deport them.
So many things started moving at the same time. We wondered whether this was an intentional effort or just a point where the chaos had started impacting kids in new ways.
Now, evidence is pointing to the coordination of all of these events, strategized by powerful people within the U.S. government. Last week, The Guardian reported that Stephen Miller has been marshaling resources from across the administration - coordinating between at least 5 departments, calling employees of those departments personally, pushing them to take action - building up the power of the U.S. government and using it... to detain and deport children.
What is there to be said about a person, about a nation, that gathers up all their strength and deploys it against the most vulnerable?
The depravity speaks for itself, but it doesn’t have the last word. Spend some time today meditating on the words of Jesus, the Shepherd-King.
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh..
But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
You are not powerless, even in the face of grave injustice. What can you do?
Learn more: watch this interview Austin Kocher hosted with a representative from Acacia Center for Justice and the National Center for Youth Justice, full of helpful context. Note: they shared a specific service opportunity for attorneys - share this with anyone you know who might be able to help.
Tell someone: it feels hard to amplify this message enough when there are so many things to be concerned about already. But there are still a lot of people in our circles who don't know or don't understand what's happening. Who could you start a gentle but intentional conversation with today? Our No Kids in Detention toolkit has simple ways to get started.
Make a plan to vote: now's the time to lean in for democracy and civic engagement. Check your registration, find a sample ballot, and research candidates thoughtfully.
Pray: Jesus didn't minimize his concern or love for children, and Scripture reveals God's heart for the vulnerable and special care for children. Let's ask expectantly for God to defend the rights of immigrant children today.
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." - Matthew 18:3-5
