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1/ Immigration officials accused a Salvadoran man of gang ties without providing any evidence to support their claims. Then they took his children away.
It’s another example of how family separation is still alive and well at the U.S.-Mexico border. revealnews.org/article/salvad…
It’s another example of how family separation is still alive and well at the U.S.-Mexico border. revealnews.org/article/salvad…
2/ “Mr. A,” as he’s referred to in court documents, fled El Salvador after gangs threatened to kill his two children if he didn’t pay them $1,300.
3/ After being apprehended by border authorities, he and his children were taken to a concrete holding room, nicknamed an “ice box.”
He appeared in court shortly thereafter. When he got back, his children were gone.
He appeared in court shortly thereafter. When he got back, his children were gone.
4/ As a rationale for the separation, authorities accused Mr. A of having ties to MS-13. His lawyers say otherwise, and they’ve provided a stack of evidence.
documentcloud.org/documents/5695…
documentcloud.org/documents/5695…
5/ This evidence includes a document from El Salvador’s Ministry of Justice and Public Safety, which confirms that their client doesn’t have a criminal record. 👇 
6/ There’s also a letter from his former employer, an art supply store in San Salvador where Mr. A worked for the past 13 years. It describes him as an upstanding colleague and manager. 👇
7/ Plus this photo of Mr. A, shirtless at a beach with his daughter. He has no tattoos, common indicators of an association with MS-13. 👇
8/ Nevertheless, Mr. A and his children remain separated. They have not seen each other for more than three months.
He’s not alone. Since the formal end of President Trump’s family separation policy last summer, nearly 120 migrant children have been taken from their parents.
He’s not alone. Since the formal end of President Trump’s family separation policy last summer, nearly 120 migrant children have been taken from their parents.
9/ A recent @HHSGov report notes that in a majority of these cases, parents are accused of having criminal records or gang affiliations.
But some of these allegations are unsubstantiated, @propublica has reported.
propublica.org/article/border…
But some of these allegations are unsubstantiated, @propublica has reported.
propublica.org/article/border…
10/ In the meantime, the U.S. government maintains that Mr. A has gang affiliations. They refuse to provide any proof of them. The family is still separated.
“The emotional and mental trauma is severe for both kids,” one attorney told us. “The harm is being done every day.”
“The emotional and mental trauma is severe for both kids,” one attorney told us. “The harm is being done every day.”
11/ For more reporting on children in detention, please consider subscribing to our newsletter: revealnews.org/newsletter
