New York, NY – The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) strongly condemns the Administration’s policy of separating children from their migrant families at the US’s southern border. To amplify the voice of the Jewish community and speak out against this policy, JCPA and ADL sent a letter signed by 26 national Jewish organizations urging the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to immediately end this inhumane practice.

“Separating families is a cruel punishment for children and families, many of whom are fleeing violence and persecution, and in search of safety,” said Cheryl Fishbein, Chair of JCPA. “It is unthinkable that we would intentionally traumatize and endanger these people, who have already had to make impossible choices to protect their families. We are proud to be partnering with ADL and other Jewish groups to stop this cruelty.”

This policy also exacerbates existing challenges in our immigration system, adding to the backlog of deportation cases and legal challenges, endangering children, and instilling terror in people seeking refuge. Reports indicate that over 1,000 children have already been separated from their parents since the policy was implemented. Mounting evidence suggests that many children have been threatened, treated poorly, and held in dangerous conditions. Children are particularly likely to suffer emotionally and psychologically from separation from their parents.

The groups called on the Administration to uphold the values of family unity and justice on which our nation was built by rescinding the “zero tolerance” policy. We believe that we treat the “stranger” in our midst should reflect our national moral values and ideals.

The full text of the letter is available here.