Merced County residents rally on national day of support for undocumented immigrants
More than 100 Merced County residents on Saturday called for the reunification of immigrant parents separated from their children during a march and rally in Merced.
Joining with hundreds of thousands of protesters across the nation Saturday, advocates, local community organizations and faith leaders called on lawmakers to oppose President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Specifically, they pointed to the suffering of detained asylum seekers from war-torn Central and South American countries who recently were separated from their children as part of ramped-up federal immigration enforcement.
“This is not a Republican problem or a Democratic problem; it is a human kindness problem,” said the Rev. Twyla Reece of Unity of Merced. “It shouldn’t matter what your political beliefs are, we should be here to take care of each other, each and every one.”
Trump and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ in April instituted a “zero-tolerance” policy that turned first-time misdemeanors for entering the United States, even for asylum, into federal prosecution.
After public outrage at the family separation, Trump signed an executive order ending that specific effect of his policies. But the administration didn’t provide guidance on what would happen to those children already separated from their parents.
“What’s happening to these children is immoral, but it’s very damaging psychologically and physically,” said Salvador Sandoval, a Merced County physician. “The separation of families is something traumatic that could affect them for the rest of their lives.”
The supporters gathered Saturday morning at the corner of G Street and Olive Avenue in Merced and started marching along the sidewalk of Olive Avenue. The hour-long march headed west to M Street and turned south, arriving at the World War II Memorial in Court House Park.
Phoebe Hernandez, 8, of Chowchilla, looks on during a rally to end family separation at Courthouse Park in Merced, Calif., on Saturday, June 30, 2018. People from Merced and surrounding communities marched from the intersection of G Street and Olive Avenues to the park. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com