Mayors Call for Action on Border Separation of Families
iBerksires.com reports the mayors of Pittsfield and North Adams are adding their voices to calls to rescind a "zero-tolerance" policy decision by the U.S. Department of Justice that has resulted in the separation of children from families attempting to cross the border illegally or requesting asylum.
"As the mayors of the cities of Pittsfield and North Adams in Western Massachusetts, we write to express our shared opposition to the Trump administration's policy of separating children from parents at the U.S. border. We stand with civic, community, and spiritual leaders across the nation in decrying a policy that has evoked unnecessary fear and confusion," write Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer and North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard.
The joint communiqué to U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal asks them to "support legislation that will bring a swift end to this inhumane practice."
The policy was enacted in April to vigorously prosecute "attempted illegal entry and illegal entry into the United States by an alien," resulting in the removal of some 2,000 children from their parents or adult family members in April and May, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Previously, the priority had been focused on those suspected of felonies or gang affiliation; families had often been detained together or released for future processing.