It must stop - Wayne Centrone

I'm on my way to Perú. We've got our team of volunteers assembling in Lima over the next couple of days and we'll start the Team Perú project on Sunday.

As I turn my attention to our annual volunteer outreach trip, I can't help but feel haunted by what's going on with children in the U.S. 

People who know me know my politics. I don't hide my positions; however, I don't usually post political issues or items on the HBI website. 

​Today, things are different. I've got to say something. The issues of immigration are complex. The issues of child protection are not. Children need every opportunity to thrive. The current practices of our government are not only preventing children from thriving - they are endangering their futures. It must stop. And, we've got to all be involved.

Here are a couple of way I suggest we can all be involved: (1) Write, call, or email your elected officials and demand an end to the policy; (2) stay current on the facts (recognizing that we all get our news from different sources - just stay informed with whatever news source you use); (3) support organizations fighting the good fight. HBI is proud to partner with the Innovation Law Lab on immigrant rights and support. Check out their website for information on how you can support their work and get involved. 

I'm not going to profess to have a solution to the complex issue of immigration. I don't. I do, however, know that what is going on with detained children is wholly wrong and we must all work together to protect the innocent lives of youth and young adults fleeing violence and trauma in Latin America. We've all got to work together to make certain this egregious practice of child separation stops.

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