6 Michigan Demonstrations To Reunite Immigrant Families

MICHIGAN — A nationwide demonstration opposing the Trump administration's policy of separating migrant families crossing the southwestern U.S. border is planned for June 30, with demonstrations beginning June 23. Part of the administration's "zero tolerance" approach to illegal immigration, children are being separated from their families at the border while the parents are held for prosecution, sparking a firestorm of controversy. More than 2,000 kids have been separated and now need to be reunited with their parents, according to reports.

Six Michigan demonstrations will be held across major cities in Michigan, standing in solidarity with protestors around the country to stop splitting up families and reunite those who have been ripped apart.

Here's what is planned locally:

Families Belong Together (Port Huron)

• When: Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 23 and Saturday, June 30
• Where: In front of the ICE detention facility, 1170 Michigan Road, Port Huron
• About this event: This local event is organized by Democratic candidates for the 33rd District Andrea Geralds-Taylor and for the 31st District Joni Batterbee. "Even with today's update about indefinitely detaining families together, we insist that those who have already been separated be immediately reunited," said Geralds-Taylor. "We are also concerned about follow through, so until we see some proof we will not be silent. Babies belong with parents, not in cages. The second rally is in response to the nationwide call to action ... As mothers, we could not be silent."
• RSVP: Click here for the first event June 23 Click here for the second protest June 30.

Families Belong Together - No Human Is Illegal (Detroit)

• When: Saturday, June 30 at noon
• Where: Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit
• About this event: Hart Plaza is a central location that neighbors Southwest Detroit’s “Mexicantown,” where the Latino population has grown and small business have flourished reviving and sustaining Detroit. Over the last 20 years, Detroit's Hispanic population has grown by 70 percent, from 28,473 in 1990 to 48,679, according to the 2010 Census.
• RSVP: Click here

Families Belong Together (Detroit)

• When: 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30
• Where: Detroit Border Control, Detroit, MI 48207
• About this event: Protesters will meet on the sidewalk and grassy area surrounding the ICE DETENTION CENTER without blocking pedestrians or traffic. Guests are invited to bring their families, signs and chants! Drummers are welcome, too. "Every day, this administration is cruelty separating children from their families," organizers wrote. "They have proven that whether it’s at the border or in detention we can’t trust them to care for the children!”
• RSVP: Click here

Pontiac Protest of Trump’s Family Separation Policy

• When: 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30
• Where: Pontiac Public Library, 60 E. Pike Street, Pontiac
• About this event: The Pontiac demonstration is meant to be the central hub for protesters in Oakland County. The Pontiac Public Library is located at the northwest corner of Woodward Avenue (northbound) and Pike Street in downtown Pontiac. Protesters will be congregating on the sidewalks along East Pike Street and Woodward Avenue. Public, free parking is available at the Pontiac Public Library, as well as at Pontiac City Hall on the other side of Woodward Avenue (accessible from Pike Street or Auburn Avenue).
• RSVP: Click here

Families Belong Together - Ann Arbor

• When: 11 am. Saturday, June 30
• Where: The Diag
• About this event: Organizers of the Ann Arbor event had this to say: “Donald Trump and his administration are cruelly separating children from their families. But we won't allow it to continue. On June 30, we're rallying around the country and in Washington, D.C., to tell Donald Trump and his administration to stop separating kids from their parents! Trump and his administration have been systematically criminalizing immigration and immigrants, from revoking Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to ramping up intimidating ICE tactics. Let's send a clear message to Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress: Families Belong Together.”
• RSVP: Click here

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat from Washington, announced the date of the protest on the MSNBC show "All In With Chris Hayes" Monday night. The main protest will be held right outside the White House on Lafayette Square at 11 a.m., Jayapal said.

Similar protests in cities around the country have already been announced in at least 41 states. (You can find protests by zip code using this website.)

The Trump administration has come under intense criticism from advocates, lawmakers and citizens for the policy of separating migrant children from their families. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced that nearly 2,000 children had been separated at the border over the period beginning April 19 and ending in May.

The children are being housed in detention facilities that have been compared to internment camps. Many lawmakers have marched to these facilities to try and get a look at how these immigrant children are being housed. U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat from Texas, led a group of protesters to one such facility in south Texas on Father's Day. Another such facility is in Brownsville, Texas, where DHS officials arranged for reporters to tour the premises.

Jacob Soboroff, a reporter at MSNBC who toured the facility, said the some 1,500 boys living there have under 40 square feet of living space each and said the facility felt like a prison or a jail.
In chilling audio obtained by ProPublica that was recorded at a CBP facility, children can be heard crying for their parents.

The Trump administration has stood by the policy and while President Donald Trump has falsely blamed the Democrats for the separations, Stephen Miller, a senior policy advisor to Trump, told The New York Times it was a "simple decision by the administration" to have a zero-tolerance policy for illegal border crossings. At an intense press briefing on Monday, the secretary of homeland security, Kirstjen Nielsen, defended the policy. (You can see an analysis of Nielsen's defense put together by The Washington Post.)

Meanwhile, Democrats have introduced a bill that would end family separations but so far the bill does not have the support of any Republicans. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, has said he will introduce his own legislation to end family separations and on Tuesday, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said all Republican senators support putting an end to family separations at the border.

Patch reporter Feroze Dhanoa contributed to this report.

Image via Shutterstock

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