Governor Tom Wolf and U.S. Senator Bob Casey demanded information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the migrant children separated from their parents at the southern border and were transferred in Pennsylvania.
In a letter to HHS Sec Alex Azar, Gov. Wolf and Sen. Casey expressed their concern about the safety and well-being of the unaccompanied migrant children. They emphasized that these children are vulnerable. The “trauma of being separated from their parents will have short and long-term adverse impact on their mental health and well-being.”
Gov. Wolf and Sen. Casey strongly oppose family separation
In addition, Gov. Wolf and Sen. Casey reiterated their opposition to the Trump administration’s policy of detaining families seeking asylum. They specifically condemned the practice of separating children from their parents.
Furthermore, they emphasized that Pennsylvania is legally responsible for supervising Child Residential and Day Treatment Facilities. They also noted that the DHS has contracts with local governments to administer its Unaccompanied Refugee Minors’ Program in the state.
