[Jiangsu News] Iryna Merezhko persuaded her sister who lives in Ukraine and asked her little nephew to go to Los Angeles with her to escape the war, and thus crossed half of the earth to pick him up. "I told my nephew that we were going to California for vacation, and we would go to Disneyland, Universal Studios and the beach to play," Erina recalled. Earlier this month, 14-year-old Ivan Yereshov followed his aunt to the border city of Mexico Tijuana, and together with thousands of Ukrainians , waiting for entry to the United States at the border.
"New York Times " reported on April 19 that for safety reasons, Erina prepared a notarized power of attorney in advance to prove that Ivan had been handed over to her care. However, a border law enforcement officer told them that the two could not enter the country together because Arina was not Ivan's parents. “They told us we’ll be apart for a day or two,” Arina said. Ivan's initial enthusiasm instantly turned into frustration, and Erina hugged him and said goodbye to him. It was not until 10 days later that Erina learned about Ivan's situation again.
Doctors of Ukrainian children have to be separated from relatives, friends or older brothers and sisters who come to the southern border due to a law designed to prevent trafficking of immigrant children. The law, which comes into effect in 2008, requires border law enforcement officers to place “unaccompanied minors” in government shelters until their guardians pass screening and approval before they can leave.
This law has always had the most impact on Central American children who flee gang violence, the largest group of minors to arrive at the border in recent years. These children have long known about this policy and foresee that they will be temporarily detained. However, for Ukrainian children who have just fled the war, the separation from their guardians is an unexpected and shocking turn.
The picture shows illegal immigrants blocked by the US-Mexico border fence. (Photo source: AP/Yuma Sun)
Fighting human trafficking but traumatized children
"Imagine that some children's parents died on the battlefield or were fighting on the front line; some children have not yet recovered from the trauma of war and journey. Unexpectedly, after coming to the United States, they were separated from their families again and were sent to a shelter where they could not even speak." said Erika Pinheiro, a lawyer at the immigration advocacy group Al Otro Lado.
Pinero acknowledges that protecting children from traffickers is crucial, but closer screening at the border can reduce the possibility of such crimes while reducing the trauma of immigrant children due to separation from their families. "Some people don't take the interests of their children to heart," she said.
The federal government has not yet announced the number of Ukrainian children separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border, but according to volunteers, at least 50 people are in such a dilemma. They said that as many as 20 children have come to Tijuana every day with people other than their parents. Usually, the fathers of these children are unable to go abroad because they participate in the war, while some mothers are unable to travel. Therefore, parents have to entrust others to send their children to the United States.
Division of Homeland Security said in a statement that under the laws related to anti-human trafficking, any child entering the United States with persons other than their parents or legal guardians is an "unaccompanied" minor. As required, such children will be transferred to government asylum care and custody so that law enforcement officers can investigate whether the incoming guardians have trafficked.
Immigration rights advocates acknowledge that children are at risk of being trafficked and exploited in the chaos of war. But they pointed out that the federal law enforcement is not strong enough, which has caused confusion and heartbreaking.
25 women and children live in the same room, cover a thin blanket and sleep on the floor
Last month (March), Molly Surazhsky, the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants living in Brooklyn, New York, escorted 17-year-old Liza Krasulia from Polish to southern United States border. Lisa's mother is Molly's best friend.
Molly said that before her trip, she had consulted an immigration lawyer in New York, who said there should be no problems with the trip. They prepared to enter the country with a notarized letter from Lisa's parents, in which Molly was given custody of Lisa.
However, after they arrived at the border on March 30, they were told that Lisa would be detained for up to two days. Lisa was sobbing.
"I told her, 'Don't worry. I wouldn't go anywhere without you.'" Molly recalled.
It was not until Molly checked in at a hotel in San Diego that she received the first call from Lisa. Lisa was very sad on the phone. Law enforcement officers allegedly confiscated Lisa's cell phone, luggage, books, and even shoelaces, allowing her to live in the same room with 25 women and children from Ukraine, Russia and other countries. All of them were sleeping on the floor with only a thin blanket.
A few days later, Molly learned that Lisa was transferred to an immigrant children's shelter in Bronx, New York.
Molly then submitted 40 pages of documents and several fingerprints, waiting for official approval to provide guarantees for Lisa.
On Monday (18th), Molly was told that Lisa will be released from the shelter the next day, three weeks have passed since they crossed the border.
"While I understand the need to review guardians, there must be better ways to solve this problem without causing more trauma to the children." Molly said, "They make the children feel like prisoners." (End)
