CHILDREN AT OUR BORDER: National religious leaders to Obama: “Don’t trade kids’ lives in immigration action”

National faith leaders urge Administration to preserve protections  for children in any upcoming executive actions on immigration

NOTE: Pax Christi USA Executive Director Sr. Patricia Chappell, SNDdeN signed onto this letter.

WASHINGTON – Forty national religious leaders have delivered a succinct, one-sentence message to President Barack Obama urging him not to compromise the lives of children fleeing violence in Central America as the Administration considers its next steps on immigration.

With new reports of Honduran children being killed following their deportation from the U.S. and Mexico, this incredibly short message underscores the critical importance of protecting children and families seeking safety. The full letter reads:

While we celebrate the potential of executive action to alleviate the suffering caused by our nation’s broken immigration system – particularly in light of political inaction in Congress – it must not come at the cost of due process and access to humanitarian protection for children and families fleeing violence in Central America.

Following the sending of the letter, national leaders spoke on a press teleconference to stress the urgency of their message and why the Administration must not compromise on critical protections for children in any executive actions.

Click here to see the letter with signatories.