In response to the treatment of Haitian migrants gathered on the U.S. southern border, First Focus on Children President Bruce Lesley issued the following statement:
“We condemn the mistreatment Haitian children and families seeking safety at our border have endured at the hand of our government. We recently joined partner organizations in outlining the harms children would face if returned to Haiti, and since then the country has suffered additional crises and natural disasters. No child should be returned to those conditions. Our government must immediately open an investigation into the mistreatment of Haitians in Del Rio, Texas, stop expelling Haitian and other asylum seekers in violation of their right to seek asylum, and rebuild our asylum system to welcome all children and their families with dignity.”