[JOINT STATEMENT] USA - REUNITE DETAINED CHILDREN AT THE BORDERS

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New York, June 30, 2018

REUNITE DETAINED CHILDREN AT THE BORDERS

Upon the occasion of the Governing Board meeting of the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA – International Association of Lawyers), convened in New York, NY, USA, on June 30, the undersigned signatories note with grave concern the recently imposed United States policy, as implemented by President Donald J. Trump, ordering the inhumane separation of immigrant children from their parents at the United States borders. While we note that the Executive Order recently issued by President Trump revoked the policy for future child detainees, the Executive Order did not address a plan with respect to the more than 2,300 children who have already been separated in the wake of the implementation of President Trump’s stated “zero tolerance” policy.

Therefore, we welcome and support the decision issued on June 26 by the Hon. Dana M. Sabraw, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, who ordered that all children affected by President Trump’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policy be reunited with parents within 30 days, 14 days if the children are younger than 5 years. We also strongly support Judge Sabraw’s order that, within 10 days, federal authorities must allow parents to telephone their children, if they have not already been in contact with them.

It is undeniable that children who have been forcibly separated from parents in the present circumstances face detrimental harm, likely for life, to their well-being and health, and we are deeply disturbed by the innumerable reports of detained and separated children who are crying uncontrollably, unable to sleep, and suffering from panic attacks. While we recognize that these are challenging issues, every day that passes means another day that these children are suffering unspeakable harm to their health.

We urge President Trump immediately to implement the court order and work ceaselessly to ensure communication between detained children and parents and to reunite the detained children with their parents.

We will continue to closely monitor implementation of the order and resolution of this inhumane situation.

Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA)     
UIA-IROL (Institute for the Rule of Law)
Conselho Federal da OAB    
New York City Bar
Ilustre y Nacional Colegio de Abogados de México
União des Advogados de Lingua Portuguesa
Consejo General de la Abogacía Española  
Barreau de Luxembourg
Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Barcelona 
AIJA (International Association of Young Lawyers)
Barreau de Kinshasa - Matete
Hungarian Bar Association
Barra Mexicana
Consejo General de la Abogacía Mexicana
Ordre des Avocats de Genève

Have also joined this statement :

Colegio de Abogados  y Abogadas de Costa Rica
Colegio de Abogados del Uruguay
Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Valencia
New York State Bar Association
Hong Kong Bar Association
Conseil National des Barreaux
Ordine degli Avvocati di Milano
Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales
Barreau de Paris
Ordine degli Avvocati di Firenze
Ordine degli Avvocati di Verona
Ordine degli Avvocati di Torino
Barreau de Bruxelles
The Law Society of England and Wales