Several Hollywood celebrities and singers recently flew to Tornillo, Texas to take a stand against the government’s “zero tolerance” policy towards illegal immigrants that was responsible for the separation of children from their parents.
ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat” star and the female lead of the highly anticipated full-Asian film “Crazy Rich Asians,” Constance Wu, joined the stand along with Amber Heard, Joshua Jackson, Lena Dunham and singer Sia to protest the migrant child crisis on Sunday, according to US Magazine.
“Seeking asylum is not a crime. Taking children from their parents, putting them in tents and cages in a place that’s over 100 degrees heat is in humane. This is not what America is about. Stand up to #keepfamiliestogether,” the 36-year-old actress said in her Instagram post.
Wu, in her series of Tweets prior to flying out to Texas, urges the public to donate and help the immigrant children that have been detained and separated from their parents and families.
In 6 wks, 2000 immigrant children have been detained & separated from their families. Join us at @FreshOffABC in donating to @RAICESTEXAS to support legal services for separated families. #keepfamiliestogether https://t.co/hHTUiwV8yn
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) June 21, 2018
As a show dedicated to exploring & celebrating the experience of an immigrant family we want to #keepfamiliestogether. We ask you & our fellow TV shows to join the cause. Donate to @raicestexas to directly support legal services for detained separated families including… pic.twitter.com/bpcN1SfbEv
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) June 21, 2018
…including providing bonds to get parents released from detention so they can re-unite with their children.
In just 6 wks, upon being detained at the border, 1,995 children have been separated from their families and now a tent city has cropped up to detain immigrant children pic.twitter.com/StjdBULxSP— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) June 21, 2018
At least 2,700 families have been separated in the border between the United States and Mexico, according to VOX.
Everyone who is caught by the U.S. Border Patrol, even those who are seeking asylum from persecution, would be referred to the Department of Justice and will be prosecuted for the misdemeanor of illegal entry, said in the report by VOX back in May.
Parents who entered the country are set to be transferred to criminal custody while their children will be treated as “unaccompanied minors.” These children are then sent to totally separate government department.
“If you are smuggling a child then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law,” the session that took place in May said.
On Wednesday, June 20, President Donald Trump backtracked his decision to separate parents from their children and signed an executive order stating that families will stay together while they are being detained.
Wu, a day before she traveled to Texas, urged people in her Twitter post to put an end to this separation of families.
Love, compassion, empathy, heart. It’s time to get together & take action bc #FamiliesBelongTogether 💗I’m headed to Tornillo, TX tomorrow to help @votolatino #EndFamilyDetention & #StopSeparation. Join me & Call Congress to say ENOUGH: (844) 432-0187.
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) June 24, 2018
Images via Instagram / constancewu
