Separation of Migrant Children From Their Families at the Border

• In Event: 35.055 - Community Resistance to the Forced Separation of Migrant Children

Abstract

“Before I build a wall I’d ask to know what I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offense” —Robert Frost

Policy Purpose: President Trump’s recent administration policy of separating immigrant children from their parents at the U.S/Mexico border has not only brought heavy scrutiny to his administration, but rests on the grounds of being unethical. The Trump administration’s “zero tolerance policy” of detaining parents attempting to seek asylum in the U.S. from horrific violence conditions in their homes has resulted in the separation of families traveling with children at the border (Hegarty, 2018). Subsequently, many of the adults are detained in an immigration prison without a hearing or a fair due process (Tchekmedyian & Davis, 2018). Furthermore, the detainees are kept in these detention facilities for a lengthy period with lack of access to legal, medical, and other vital resources. Not only have these individuals endured escaping situations of unthinkable violence, they then encounter the mental and emotional distress of being separated from their children immediately once they are detained.

Principles of Humanity--“In humans, conduct does not merely occur but emanates from the totality of the person” (Rebore, 2014, p. 5). Furthermore, (Rebore, 2014) explained that the goal of ethics is to establish standards of conduct to define us as humans, how we treat one another, and how institutions of society reflect those standards of conduct. Therefore, ethics is always about the conduct toward other people and conduct displays who we are as humans. “As humans, we confront difficult situations that require reflection about the right way to act” (Rebore, 2014, p.5). Trump’s policy clearly tests this very notion. Rebore (2012) states, ethics is concerned with human conduct, which “conduct implies that there is a choice; people can choose one course of action or an alternative course of action” (p. 6). Where then, if any, was President Trump’s ethical compass when he chose to enforce such heinous policy of separating families from children? Trump’s displayed conduct, lack of compassion and empathy towards these immigrants’ fails to demonstrate the simple knowledge of understanding humanity.

Social Ethics--Trump’s choice to implement such policy goes hand in hand with Social Ethics. Social Ethics is defined as “the realization that good and sincere people may be implicated in structures, institutions, or systems that inflict harm injustices on other people” (Rebore, 2014, p.25). This policy’s unethical action complies with this definition. In this case, the imposed power taken by the Trump’s administration towards these families are inherently like actions taken towards the internment of Japanese Americans in the United States during World War II (1942-1946) who were forced relocation and incarceration in camps. Sadly, Rebore (2014) would agree that Trump’s actions have demeaned the humanity of others and which have become embodied in institutions, structures, and systems

Authors

• Christian Corrales, The University of Texas - El Paso

• Beverley Argus-Calvo, The University of Texas - El Paso