Two hands reaching for the other behind a wired fence with a red background

Reunite Separated Families and Provide Relief Now

Update 12/16/2021: After our government deliberately abused young children by separating them from their parents, it has abandoned negotiations to help give much-needed compensation to these families. This decision is shameful, but all the more reason we must push the administration to provide other critical forms of relief and resources to help the traumatized heal: Sign our petition demanding more action now.

During the Trump administration, the government cruelly engaged in the systematic separation of over 5,500 migrant families coming to the United States. The ACLU was there from the start, filing a national class-action lawsuit that successfully blocked the policy. Thousands of families have been reunited as a result.

However, families remain separated to this day. Our latest report shows the parents of hundreds of children have still not been found – and the irreparable trauma inflicted upon all the families is everlasting.

The work to undo this damage must be an urgent priority for the Biden administration. That's why we are urging the Biden administration to commit to the following actions – join us by signing the petition:

  1. Find the missing parents, reunite all the families, and ensure they can live in the United States together, free from detention and deportation
  2. Provide immediate protections from deportation and support a pathway for all separated families to remain in the U.S.
  3. Establish resources and redress funds that includes coverage of trauma-informed mental health services
  4. Make systemic changes to end family separations for good
  5. Pursue investigations of and accountability for those responsible

The government can never fully undo the harms inflicted by the Trump administration's cruel policy, but this holistic approach is necessary if we are to fully reckon with the systematic separation of thousands of families – and ensure that no future administration will ever erroneously consider it as a deterrent measure again.

Please sign our petition and urge the Biden administration to take action now.

To the Biden administration:

You inherited the Trump administration's horrific legacy of family separation. Although the U.S. government can never fully undo the harm, it can begin to make amends. I’m urging you to commit to the following actions now: (1) Reunify all families, bringing them back to the United States if they’ve been deported; (2) Provide immediate protections from detention and deportation and support a pathway for separated families to remain in the U.S.; (3) Provide resources and support, including trauma counseling; (4) Make systemic changes to ensure an end to family separations; (5) Pursue accountability.