Bryan is 10 years old and is in 5th grade. He is a member of St. Matthew/San Mateo Episcopal Church in Auburn Washington. He is a U.S. Citizen. His mother is not nor is his step-father. Both have been detained. Thanks to the help of friends, family and members of the church congregation Bryan and his two siblings have been reunited with his mother. His step-father's case waits for consideration by an immigration judge. Bryan wrote this note to the Judge: "Why do you do this? We are all the same to god. What makes us different, tell me one reason why we should go, we grow crops for you, clean for you in yards. Please let us stay here, we are all the same. We respect you, but you don't respect us."

In the last decade we have seen an increase in enforcement of immigration laws (raids, local enforcement, detention, deportation, etc). One of the negative consequences of increased enforcement is the impact it has on families, particularly children. There are approximately five million U.S. children with at least one undocumented parent. As a report of the Urban Institute highlights: "the recent intensification of immigration enforcement activities by the federal government has increasingly put these children at risk of family separation, economic hardship, and psychological trauma."

To address some of the adverse and negative consequences of immigration enforcement on children Senators Al Franken (MN) and Herb Kohl (WI) introduced the Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections (HELP) for Separated Children Act S.3522. HELP aims to keep kids safe, informed, and accounted for during Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.

"This legislation offers safeguards for children whose parents are placed in federal custody so they are not left on their own," Sen. Kohl said.

The HELP Separated Children Act would strengthen humanitarian protections for children by: keeping state and local authorities in the know (e.g. schools, child welfare agencies, etc.), identifying at-risk children, allowing parents to arrange for care of their children, protecting children during interrogations and protecting children by taking into consideration the best interests of children.

The Episcopal Church is committed to creating fair and humane immigration policies, believing that enforcement of immigration laws should respect human rights, treating immigrants with dignity and humanely. Children and families should not suffered and live in fear due to a broken immigration system or disproportionate enforcement.

Stand up for children.  Tell your Senator to co-sponsor the HELP SEPARATED CHILDREN ACT