Community calls for action regarding Trump family separation policy

Leaders in the Madison community gathered at the state Capitol Wednesday morning to discuss Trump’s migrant separation policy.

They said President Donald Trump’s zero tolerance policy is causing trauma to the young children separated from their parents at the border. They went on to say there are concerns for the effects on the children’s mental and physical health.

“No child should be ripped from the arms of their parent, no child should be left in a cage alone and scared, and no child should be used as a pawn in a political game. Families belong together,” Ken Taylor, Executive Director of Kids Forward said.

Rep. Chris Taylor of Milwaukee described the living situations in the migrant detention centers as “playrooms of crying children in crisis.”

Taylor also called for action from Gov. Scott Walker to use his leverage as governor and relationship with President Trump to resolve the situation. She said Walker should withdraw the Wisconsin National Guard from the border.

The advocates and specialists from the community said they would not stop until the situation was resolved.

"Families deserve to be together. They deserve to receive the same respect they bring to this country and we should always strive to ensure they receive equal protection to fulfill every hope and every dream," Karen Menendez Coller, Executive Director of Centro Hispano of Dane County said.