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June 25, 2019, Adrian, Michigan – The General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters issued the following statement concerning the treatment of immigrant children at the border between the United States and Mexico.
We denounce in the strongest possible terms the unconscionable mistreatment of children on the U.S.-Mexico border by the Trump Administration, and call on our elected leaders to take all measures necessary to provide them with adequate food, shelter, and healthcare – and, most importantly, to reunite them with their families.
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Mt 19:14).
That children “such as these” – infants, toddlers, youngsters – reportedly have been subject to horrific overcrowding, hunger, lice infestations, sleeping on concrete floors, and other unhygienic and inhumane conditions is an assault on our human decency and fundamental moral values. It should have all Americans, as the prophets of old, rending our garments and weeping in anguish at the depravity.
It is not enough that children at the facility in Clint, Texas, are being moved to other facilities after the spotlight of public attention has exposed the scandalous way this Administration is treating these migrant children. What other facilities are holding children under similarly harsh conditions? These and other children must be reunited with their parents or with relatives residing in the United States who must be able to claim them safely.
This is not the first time we have learned about the inhumanity visited upon children at the border. In 2018, the international community was aghast at stories about this Administration’s treatment of migrant children, separating them from their families and placing them in cages for days on end in clear violation of the Flores Agreement, which provides that children may not be confined for more than 20 days.
As Members of Congress take steps to address the urgent humanitarian crisis on the border created by this Administration’s venomous approach to immigration, the top priority must be to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of God’s beloved – children such as these – now and into the future.
Members of the General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters are Sister Patricia Siemen, OP, Prioress; Sister Mary Margaret Pachucki, OP, Vicaress and General Councilor; Sister Frances Nadolny, OP, Administrator and General Councilor; and Sister Patricia Harvat, OP, and Elise García, OP, General Councilors.
Sister Attracta Kelly, OP, Director of Immigration Assistance at the Adrian Dominican Sisters was recently featured in a news story by NBC 24 News (Toledo, Ohio). Click here to view the story.
This situation continues to stir so many emotions for me. I pray and pray...... I will not lose hope that a new creation will arise.
Is it possible that you could go help these poor children?
A few weeks ago, I had the honor and blessing to volunteer as a nurse at the Migrant Resource Center in San Antonio, Texas. I was housed at Oblate School of Theology as I took a course there for two weeks. My life has completely been transformed after seeing so many families in need. Families that have been journeying for several weeks and some several months. I recommend whoever has an opportunity to experience working with migrants, just do it and you will find your spirit will be filled love and mercy beyond words. Blessings!Isabel Salazar RN.BSN773-750-4500
Thank you for this statement to the powers that be in this world. I pray that our combined voices might make a difference. We must continue to speak out and act out until change happens and justice is done.
Adrian Dominicans, thank you for speaking out against the Trump's horrible policies. It's unbelievable. Additionally, he blames the Obama administration instead of taking responsibility forhis continued poor decisions.
I am grateful to you for proclaiming the truth in these dark times.
Curious as to why the sisters were so moved by their political indignation yet nary a word against abortion on their site. The Obama Administration began this according to his own Homeland Secretary.How disingenuous! https://images.app.goo.gl/z9L9DiWkFGLEpLt58
Thank you for this appropriate and eloquent comment.
God bless you for speaking out.
Well stated, thank you Adrian Dominican Sisters.
"on the U.S.-Mexico border by the Trump Administration" let me fix this for you: "We denounce in the strongest possible terms the unconscionable mistreatment of children on the U.S.-Mexico border that has occurred the last 11 years after the policies created by the Obama administration and continued by the Trump Administration" I would suggest that the sisters travel to the border themselves and see the "mistreatment" I have and I can tell you its not as bad a the media is showing (since they are using photos from 2006 still). Second and most importantly where do we put these people who are flowing in uncontrollable numbers, we simply dont have the funds or space for the number, and we cant just let them start living on the streets. please befor making anymore statements please take the time to research and not blame a group but actually do something, go down to the border or open your church or dorms for a few thousand that will come over today alone.
Liar. These policies are Trump's policies, not Obama's. Trump is president now anyway, he sets the policy, not Obama. Not only do you lie, you try to excuse the treatment of these children. Contemptible.
These are not Trump policies but policies of politicians in Washington for dcades. Trump is not a dictatorship and cannot make ka s. That is Congresses job. Calling someone a liar does not help.
Please join a Lights for Liberty vigil on Friday, July 12 in Ann Arbor or Detroit to call for the end to human detention camps. You may also want to organize a local vigil. Lightsforliberty.org
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”