Separating kids is a crime against humanity

The family law community has been struggling with issues of separating children from their parents for decades. Family court judges have relied on mental health experts to guide the court in making these crucial decisions for children and their parents. Research into the implications of separating children from a parent, especially very young children has been used by experts to provide the court with crucial information in making parenting time and custody decisions. One of the clear and consistent findings is the separation on children from a parent can create significant psychological stress that can have long term impacts on these children. These psychological impacts include higher rates of anxiety, depression, learning disorders, relationship problems, aggression, and substance abuse. Such early trauma is linked to these symptoms and long term identity and the development of post traumatic symptoms that can last for decades. We know that these are the repurcussions when children are exposed to trauma and separation from primary caregivers, especially at young ages. So if we know this, how is it that the federal government, the courts, and our representatives in Congress are not being held accountable for crimes against humanity? When family courts have been consumed by the questions of whether or not an infant is at risk if the court allows overnights with the non custodial parent at the risk of causing trauma even with a loving parent, how can immigration courts, ICE, and the Executive branch, not be accountable for causing trauma in young children by separating them under already traumatic conditions? It is imperative that we recognize the significance of these acts, and the callous nature under which our government officials have acted against the interests of protecting human health and welfare. We know that these acts will have serious implications for the children that have been exposed to this crime, and our Courts should hold them accountable for knowingly exposing these children to psychological trauma, harm and long term damage.