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caitlinhd12 karma

Sure thing. The government says it has reunited all "eligible" children who were separated from their parents, but about 300 kids whose parents were deemed "ineligible" are still in federal custody today. A lot of their parents were deported to rural villages that are hard to reach. Advocates are currently trying to track the parents down to get the kids home. Some of those parents might choose to have their children stay in the United States without them because of concerns about safety or security (see my answer to carlinha1289!)

caitlinhd9 karma

Telling stories on behalf of people who don’t have a platform of their own. (I think that’s how a lot of journalists would answer your question!) Whether it’s an asylum seeking mother whose baby was taken from her, or a blue-collar worker whose livelihood has been upended by immigration, I get a lot of satisfaction out of knowing that in some small way, I’m helping people understand each other better.

caitlinhd9 karma

It's true that we won't know the full scope of the impact for some time. Psychologists and child development experts have testified in front of congress that separation can lead to irreparable damage, both physical and emotional. It's something we plan to follow moving forward.

caitlinhd7 karma

Maybe the biggest thing I wish people understood is that immigration is not a new thing. It has been around as long as human history, and the push and pull factors are the same — economics and security.

A lot of people started to think about immigration for the first time this summer because of the family separation story, or in 2015, because it became a central issue in the presidential election. But even a little knowledge of the history of immigration in this country shows that not much has changed in terms of who crosses the border and why.

Another small point: A lot of people don’t realize that there is legal route into the United States for most low wage workers crossing the border today. That doesn’t mean they should be able to enter illegally, but it’s not as if there is a “line” that people are skipping.

caitlinhd5 karma

The rule will affect legal immigrants who want to apply for green cards (aka: permanent resident status). It gives the government grounds to deny green cards to people who have used public benefits, like subsidized health care, food or housing. Advocates worry that it could force people to choose between feeding their families and maintaining legal status, and, that it will discourage other immigrants -- even those who already have permanent resident status -- from using public benefits for fear that it could in some way be used against them. Check out this piece for more info: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/22/us/politics/immigrants-green-card-public-aid.html