Release date: 6/19/2018
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein today called on United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions to end the cruel and attacks on children and families lawfully seeking asylum in the United States as they seek protection from domestic, sexual, and gang violence. In recent weeks, the federal government has separated thousands of asylum-seeking children from their parents, and reclassified the protective status of international domestic violence survivors. “The president’s family separation policy is an affront to American decency and the children’s humanity,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “The administration must cease this cruelty immediately.”
Attorney General Stein, along with a coalition of 20 other attorneys general, argues that in addition to being cruel and dangerous, these policies are, at their core, violations of international, federal, and state law, as well as of judicial precedent. Almost universally, those laws and precedents state that children’s best interests are in remaining with their parents, absent a rigorous judicial inquiry. The Department of Justice is ignoring those best interests, putting politics ahead of children.
The letter also reads, “These practices directly interfere with the efforts of our offices and other law enforcement officials—locally, nationally, and internationally—to prevent and prosecute crime. In most states, Attorneys General are responsible for enforcing laws that include human trafficking, drug trafficking, and gang violence offenses. As you are keenly aware, these issues are rarely local in context, rather they require the efforts and collaboration of law enforcement officials across both state and international borders to prevent the widespread and syndicated perpetration of these crimes.
Attorney General Stein is joined by the attorneys general of New Mexico, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington in demanding an immediate change in policy.
Here is the letter that was delivered today.
Contact:
Laura Brewer (919) 716-6484
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