Our chance to rebuild our world

To the editor:

(re: “No more separation,” June 21)

“In the last six weeks, nearly 2,000 children have been separated from their families.”

Confirmed by several news sources, this statement has continued to haunt Americans who support legal asylum seekers in the United States and their access to basic human rights. The topic of immigration has been accused of becoming bipartisan in politics before. However, the issues involved with the Trump administration’s immigration policies are a concern of human rights.

The United States’ “zero tolerance” policy was condemned by the United Nations Human Rights Council as it called for an “immediate halt” of the policy of separating children from their parents after crossing the U.S. border. After receiving much public pressure, President Trump signed an executive order into law, which gave no revocation of the policy. The order stated it planned to continue the policy, only keeping families together where “appropriate and consistent with law and available resources.”

While the executive branch and this controversy have been on the forefront of our news lately, it is important to reach out to your state and local members of the legislative branch, U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel. 

There are bills, such as the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (or BUILD) Act, circulating through Congress that can help people who seek asylum and/or immigrate to the United States improve their lives as much as possible while living in their home countries.

The United States spends approximately 1 percent of its international budget on foreign aid, which the average U.S. citizen estimates about 20 percent is spent. Advocating for policy that increases international aid inherently advocates for those men, women and children in developing countries who receive it in various ways.

Building new schools, sending malaria nets, vaccines, etc., to developing nations result in improvements in global health and happiness. Increasing military spending does not.

Sierra Arral

The author is a Borgen Project ambassador.