Amid allegations, DHS defends child separation policy
Venezuela accuses the Trump administration, alleging officials are 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: Members of the Tren de Aragua gang, involved in serious crimes.
- Children: Placed in foster care for their safety.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) firmly denies Venezuela's accusations that the Trump administration separated a child from her parents. The case involves a two-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, it was mentioned that the child's father is a lieutenant in TdA responsible for murders, drug trafficking, kidnappings, extortion, human trafficking, and running a torture house. Meanwhile, the child's mother was reportedly involved in recruiting young women for drug trafficking and prostitution. Quoted by Fox News, DHS emphasizes that these persons were in the United States illegally, 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 usually 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, 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 the care of the services.
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 Venezuelan Minister of the Interior, condemned on Friday that the United States is "kidnapping" Venezuelan children. He mentioned it's not just about the case of the two-year-old girl. He referred to a case of a migrant mother who was allegedly forced to board a plane without her two-year-old son.
