(Around 250 immigration rights activists from human rights groups gathered in Lafayette Square in front of the White House for a rally June 1, 2017. Just over a year later, outrage over the family separation policy boiled over. (Photo by Stephen Melkisethian via Creative Commons license))
The Trump administration’s zero tolerance border policy has sparked a lot of outrage, and photos, videos and audio clips of families being separated and put into detention facilities have gone viral on social media.
Although today the president signed an executive order effectively ending the practice of separating migrant families at the border, some have been actively protesting the detention and separation of children from their parents along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Here’s what some young people are saying about it on Twitter. (Warning: Some of the posts contain strong language. Please proceed with discretion.)
They’re little kids man wtf, I can’t believe this smh? https://t.co/fZ6goiJYDa
— Elvira (@Elvira_lion) June 20, 2018
I am able to cross the border with no problem whatsoever, meanwhile there are children being taken from their families and treated as anything less than human. My heart is struggling. I recognize my own privilege and wish I could do something to help these families in need.
— Ⓥ af (@_anafigueroa_) June 20, 2018
My mom, brother and I in 2000. I cannot imagine being separated from my mother at that age. My brother might be dead. #FamilesBelongTogether pic.twitter.com/ODzPseKeXX
— trump/america is imprisoning children and infants (@katiedoesntknow) June 20, 2018
i’m…. what the FUCK? did she really just fucking say that these detention centers are like summer camps and boarding schools? OKAY WHITE BITCH SEND YOUR KIDS THERE FOR THE SUMMER AND LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES. puta perra tonta no sabes nada!! https://t.co/6ahD6VYubV
— gaby ? (@gbymeyer) June 19, 2018
Many who spoke out on Twitter were immigrants or children of immigrants themselves.
These detention centers are horrific. I can’t even imagine what 6 year old me would have felt if they would have separated me from my mom when I came to this country. At that age you don’t even realize that what you’re doing is wrong. This is horrible.
— amalia (@amaliatamale_) June 20, 2018
I sit at home scared thinking if my mom will get home safe and not having to get separated from her
— j (@ahtziri_ramos) June 19, 2018
When my parents immigrated to the US they did so legally and I was not separated from them. Why don’t we advocate for legal immigration instead of urge people to continue crossing the border ILLEGALLY? Enough with the virtue signaling. https://t.co/kR5nzgGSUw
— Luis Rodriguez (@luis_rodr19uez) June 17, 2018
I came to this country when I was 5 years old & thinking back of how scary a new country is, not speaking the language – it’s overwhelming. Thinking about going through all of that without my parents… man, my heart hurts.
— Emma Canela (@emmcanela) June 20, 2018
I feel so helpless. I wish I could help these families reunite with their babies NOW…This could’ve easily been my mom with my three siblings.
— Daisy (@yodaizy) June 20, 2018
Some took to Twitter to express their disappointment that news of the death of controversial rapper XXXTentacion filled their feeds instead of commentary about the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border
my timeline spent an ENTIRE day talking about xxx…..but has yet to speak about the separation and inhumanity of families being separated at the border and babies being kept in cages.
— lex (@pansexualtonies) June 20, 2018
I can’t believe the internet only cares about some little pathetic abuser dying when a bunch of Latino kids are dying in concentration camps
— ???? (@verywarmhug) June 19, 2018
here are my thoughts about XXXtentacion’s death: the US government is seperating children from immigrant families and putting them in prison camps
— lev-o (@dayan45s) June 18, 2018
Others recalled the fear and memory of being separated from their own parent, even if it was just at a store.
One time when I was 5 I got separated from my mom in a Walmart. And even though I know she wouldn’t leave the store without me, my 5 year old self was crying and terrified because I thought I might never see her again.
— Alexus (@alexusrochelle) June 20, 2018
I’ve lost my mom at ToysRUs when i was little and i was screaming and i only lost her for a few minutes in a small vicinity. At that age just the thought of being separated and without my mom would wreck me. Idk how these children are living rn.
— KRIS (@krisagzi) June 20, 2018
And some young people are even comparing the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border to the Holocaust.
remember when we said trump was going to open concentration camps and white liberals said we were being dramatic
— jaboukie young-white (@jaboukie) June 20, 2018
Not to be dramatic but this EERILY familiar. Like, maddddd (??♂️卐??) familiar. https://t.co/1jXEb9r1Qk
— Shahem . (@PettyNegr0) June 20, 2018
Remember the piles of wedding rings taken from holocaust victims and how we see it now and wonder how we ever let the violation of human rights get so far well yeah https://t.co/POKdmibgKk
— C-Dawg ｡•ﻌ•｡ (@clarissalule) June 18, 2018