Local mothers speak on family seperation at the border
Today, President Donald Trump put an end to family separation at the border when he signed an executive order aimed at maintaining family unity. Parents will now stay with their children in detention with the Department of Homeland Security.
The order also instructs federal agencies to prepare facilities that could house thousands of detained immigrant families and family cases will now be decided on faster in immigration courts.
KESQ & CBS Local 2’s Jake Ingrassia spoke with Kathleen Espinola and Ashley Brown, single mothers at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in Indio, to hear what they had to say about the thought of being separated from their kids. Neither mom could understate the importance of their family being kept together.
“That’s my motivation, getting them what they need and making them happy,” Ashly Brown, one of the mother’s at the CVRM.
Brown said she can’t imagine the pain of the detained families at the border.
“Being torn away from my kids for even a day let alone months at a time, I don’t even know, I wouldn’t even wanna know what that feels like,” Brown said.
Gloria Gomez, founder, and CEO of the Galilee Center in Mecca, a shelter that helps families, was left in Mexico for four years without her mom before she entered the U.S. as a citizen.
“It was traumatizing. I still remember the day my mom left and came to the U.S. to work, so I can just imagine the children, being separated here without knowing anyone,” Gomez added.
Psychotherapist Angelica Guajardo warns of the danger of ripping families apart.
“Every child needs to feel secure in their home life and when they’re being ripped apart from their family, the very basis of what they live for – it can be very detrimental,” Guajardo said.
Before President Trump signed the executive order Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz released the following statement:
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We reached out to the Republican Party Leaders in the Valley to speak about the matter, however, they were not available to meet with us.
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