Billy Lawless (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I stand as an Irish citizen, an immigrant citizen and a naturalised United States citizen. I am also a father and a grandfather and someone who moved to the United States over 20 years ago to pursue the American dream. I feel compelled to speak out today against the inhumane separation of immigrant children from their parents at the United States-Mexico border. These families, seeking asylum in the United States, are often fleeing the most horrendous conditions in their home countries. They are the most vulnerable of immigrants and their only desire is to seek a better life for themselves and their children. The children have done nothing wrong.

We have been repeatedly told by experts, mental health groups and human rights organisations that this separation can have a lifelong impact on children and their parents and could be tantamount to Government-sanctioned child abuse. Over a six-week period, more than 2,000 children have been separated from their parents. I am not speaking about politics and this should not be about democrats or republicans, or left and right. These are children, human beings, and they are being locked in cages. Toddlers are being separated from their parents.Despite what is being said, there is no law in the United States that requires this separation. I am deeply ashamed to say that these human rights abuses are taking place in the United States of America under the direction of the President, the Secretary for Homeland Security and the Attorney General. This is a policy of the current Administration, which could change it immediately should it choose to do so.

On many occasions we have castigated the Irish Government and authorities here as being barbaric in the context of the policy of separating children from their mothers in the past. However, here we are, in 2018, seeing the same happen again in a supposed First World country. These policies do not reflect the country I know and love. They do not reflect the core values of the American or the Irish-American people. I commend the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, on his strong statement condemning the actions of the Trump Administration. I stand with those United States Senators and Congressmen, Republican and Democrat, who have visited these prison cages. I urge the Government and this House to use whatever means are at their disposal to let those mothers, fathers and children know that every voice counts and that this country - and our people - stand firm with the values most Americans hold dear. Ireland, Irish citizens, Irish-American citizens and our Irish diaspora must stand united with politicians around the world. I ask them to join me and the United Nations in speaking out against this inhumane, horrendous policy.