Families torn apart: The tragic divide in the 'promised land'

Editor's note: The U.S. lauds itself as a lighthouse of democracy. But the reality is quite the opposite. American Lighthouse Dying Down is a three-part series delving into the contrast between the democratic ideals and the stark realities present in the United States. The first essay focuses on Washington's migrant policies. Wei Nanzhi, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a research fellow at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Known as a beacon of "freedom, equality and opportunity," the U.S. has been the "promised land" for migrants. But upon crossing the U.S. border, migrants are seeing their "American Dream" transforming into a nightmare.

In May 2018, the U.S. government implemented a "zero tolerance" policy for those who crossed the border from Mexico into the U.S. without proper documentation. Adults were detained while their young children, who entered with them, were forcibly separated and placed in separate accommodations. Even infants – as young as four months old – have been subjected to this cruel separation. 

Then, how did the government treat these vulnerable children torn apart from their parents?

The children were held incommunicado in emergency border patrol facilities or shelters under the supervision of government contractors, confined within metal-fenced cages, sleeping on bare floors covered with foil blankets. Their anguished cries for their parents echo through these facilities, while their basic human rights remain unmet.

One heart-wrenching story involves Anavelis, a Honduran mother, and her six-year-old daughter, Genesis. Embarking on a perilous journey to the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping for a better life, their life changed upon facing the immigration officials. Anavelis was deported back to Honduras, forcibly separated from her young daughter. After years of agonizing separation, Anavelis and Genesis were finally reunited. But the scars on Genesis' soul remain. She suffers from nightmares, panic attacks, and daily struggles with depression.

"It's all we could do: Cry," the tormented mother said in her despair.

Extensive research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States has demonstrated the devastating effects of forced separation. These innocent children have experienced overwhelming feelings of fear, abandonment, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Prolonged separation leaves an indelible mark on their minds, with long-lasting consequences such as disrupted neurodevelopment and significant negative impacts on their social, emotional, and cognitive functioning.

The American Academy of Pediatricians rightly labels this as "government-sanctioned child abuse." Sadly, no solution can fully heal the trauma inflicted upon these families, particularly the innocent children, who will carry the scars for the rest of their lives.

Although the "zero tolerance" policy was officially lifted on January 27, 2021, it has already torn more than 5,000 innocent children away from their parents. Due to inadequate identification and tracking systems during the policy's implementation, hundreds of families remain separated to this day.

As the Texas Civil Rights Project, a legal aid organization, states that "either the government wasn't thinking at all about how they were going to put these families back together, or they decided they just didn't care."

Migrant children who are unable to locate their biological parents often find themselves in foster care or adopted by American families, forever losing the chance to be reunited with their loved ones. The "promised land" has transformed into a "nightmare land" of heart-wrenching separation, where both parents and children endure cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment.

The U.S. is a nation of immigrants; but the country's treatment of immigrants is a history with inhumane tragedies. Even in the 21st century, human rights violations against immigrants see no improvement. American politicians are using the issue as a political leverage. Some Republican governors have transported illegal immigrants from theirs to blue (Democratic) states – all in an attempt to embarrass the federal government, according to media reports. Instead of finding a solution to refugees, some politicians want to take advantage of the issue to attack rivals.

The United States feels complacent, playing the role of "human rights preacher," harping on others' human rights conditions. However, it has been blatantly violating the human rights of tens of thousands of migrants and refugees drawn to its shores by the "beacon of democracy."

The lack of accountability for those responsible is a callous disregard for humanitarian values. This is not just a concern for the United Nations Human Rights Committee but a matter that should be condemned by the global community as a whole.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)