​â¶Ä‹President Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Trump:
As a lifelong educator, I understand the negative impact trauma can have on children. Trauma has a significant and lifelong impact on the social, emotional, and physical health of the child. That is why I am writing to share with you my concerns about the treatment of families and young children at our southern border.
Families who come to the United States seeking economic security, new opportunities, and physical safety face great adversity and danger on their journeys. Immigration officials have separated families with little hope of reunification, prosecuted asylum seekers, and detained prospective immigrants indefinitely. I am deeply troubled by this cruel, abusive, and inhumane treatment cast upon the children and families. It is unacceptable, and has the potential to cause irreparable harm to the children victimized by these actions. Children could face long-lasting anxiety, depression, and other forms of mental illness that could impair their performance at school and cause problems throughout their lives.
We must treat those who come to our nation seeking refuge in a compassionate way, one that reflects the values upon which this nation was built. We are a nation of immigrants that has welcomed people from all over the world. This diversity is our strength. Your recent policy to separate children from their parents at the border is not only cruel, but an act that goes directly against the core values of our great nation.
The trauma inflicted by your family separation practices is not limited to the children at the border. Throughout my county, teachers are having difficult conversations with students because the trauma being inflicted on children by your administration hits close to home as every child's worst nightmare is to be torn away from their loved ones.
​The Office of the President of the United States has long been where our nation and the world have looked for ethical and moral leadership. Our nation's greatness was built by generations of people, who like the countless children at the border, were fleeing persecution in the pursuit of a better tomorrow. As an educator and an American, I implore you to ensure the immediate reunification of the children your administration has already separated with their families. Show the world the kindness and compassion that has made us a global beacon of light and ensure that all children are reunited and kept with their families.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D.
County Superintendent of Schools