Trump administration under fire for alleged child separation
Venezuela accuses the Trump administration of separating children from their mothers. A representative from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded to these allegations.
Key Information
- DHS: Actions were taken to protect children from their parents' criminal activities.
- Parents: Allegedly involved in the Tren de Aragua gang and serious crimes.
- Children: Placed in foster care for their safety.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has firmly denied Venezuela's accusations that the Trump administration separated a child from her parents. The case involves a 2-year-old girl, the daughter of Maiker Espinoza-Escalona and Yorely Escarleth Bernal Inciarte. Both parents are allegedly part of Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization.
In a statement issued by DHS, officials indicated that the child's father is a lieutenant in TdA responsible for murders, drug trafficking, kidnappings, extortion, human trafficking, and running a torture house. The child's mother was reportedly involved in recruiting young women for drug trafficking and prostitution. Quoted by Fox News, DHS emphasized that these illegal immigrants were in the United States unlawfully, and final deportation orders were issued for them.
The child was removed from the deportation flight's passenger list for her safety and welfare, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services. She is currently under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and has been placed in foster care.
We will not allow these children to be exposed to criminal activities that endanger their safety, said a senior DHS official, as quoted by the station.
Response to the allegations
DHS notes that immigrants generally have the option to choose whether they want to be deported with their children or if the children will be placed under the care of a designated person. Although in this case, the parents supposedly expressed the desire to leave the U.S. with their daughter, the authorities decided that for the child’s welfare, she should remain under state care.
Due to their criminal activities, the children were placed in a safe environment, explained the DHS representative.
As reported by eldiariony.com, relatives of the deported couple firmly deny any connection to Tren de Aragua and claim the accusations by the U.S. administration are false.
The publication indicates that Diosdado Cabello, the Minister of the Interior, condemned on Friday that the United States is "kidnapping" Venezuelan children. He pointed out that it’s not just about the case of the 2-year-old girl but also mentioned a case of a migrant mother allegedly forced to board a plane without her 2-year-old son.
