The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released pictures that they received from social workers drawn by children released from detention.
The AAP describes itself as an organization dedicated to the health and well-being of all children- no matter where they or their parents were born. During tours of the Custom and Border Protection facilities the housing units were compared to dog cages, were described as smelling like sweat, urine, and feces. The AAP describes the mylar blankets and stoic faced children detained.
The AAP said that the unsafe conditions that immigrant children are being exposed to is alarming to them as well as pediatricians. “We must make immediate, permanent changes to the way we treat immigrant children when they come here,” said AAP officials in a written statement.
The AAP says that the policy introduced to the public in May 2018, that forcibly separated children from their parents or caretaker at the border placing children in detention can cause psychological trauma and long-term mental health risks. The practice began months before the practice aimed to deter families from migrating to the United States was shared with the public.
“These drawings show children’s views of their time in detention at the U.S. Southern Border,” AAP officials said. “ [The] AAP believes no time in detention is healthy or safe for children.”
