Have a Good Weekend.

Thank you for this post. I felt the same way over the weekend (heartsick for those families), but the truth is I probably wouldn’t have done anything if you hadn’t made it so easy. Thanks for putting together a call to action. Just made a donation to RAICES, and am praying for those babies and their parents. It’s a dark world and this kind of news can be crippling. Thanks for calling me out of my paralysis.

Joanna, I just wanted to give you a HUGE shout out for always making your points so eloquently, so thoroughly, and always without spewing vile or hatred. Reading through (the small minority!) of misinformed or blatantly uneducated posts on this piece makes me want to pull out my hair and scream and curse and call people names. But you fight with facts, not venom- I truly admire that and will try to do the same as we work together to fight the heinous atrocities being committed at our border.

thank you for shedding light on an issue that deserves our full attention. just made a donation to RAICES. i’m looking forward to more posts like this, and appreciate you connecting us to organizations that are doing hard, but very important work

This border issue is heart breaking. I can’t see how anyone with an ounce of humanity can think it’s good government policy. I think it’s partly because anti immigrant rhetoric in so many countries has become so harsh, people have started to see immigrants as sub human (I’m an immigrant to the UK from one of those “shithole” countries as trump called them). I lie here with my babies snoring near me and can’t even imagine having us separated from each other. It tears apart my heart to even think of it. and a purely legal standpoint it doesn’t make sense – you’re punishing the children for an act, legal or not, that they have no control over.

On a lighter note, I made a non dairy version of the strawberry cake (replacing butter with olive oil and milk with coconut milk). It was so quick to make, and really delicious.

Edie,

It is always important to see both sides to these equations as the division between left and right grows deeper in the U.S. The National Review is a staunchly conservative publication that has been widely known to have promoted the Obama “birther conspiracy” and has suggested that climate change is false by intentionally manipulating temperature graphs to make them deceptive, so any information it decided to give out is inevitably slanted towards a certain way of thinking.

On the other hand, the Texas Monthly seems to be a well-regarded Texas publication of which about one out of every seven Texas adults reads. While it may trend towards a progressive viewpoint, it has not appeared to have participated in the intentional spread of false information in it’s history. I encourage you to get out and examine both sides of the story rather than finding publications from organizations that make you feel comfortable. Especially because this situation should be making people highly UNcomfortable.

And with that being said, I feel absolutely sickened that people feel the need to stand up for this treatment of immigrants/asylum-seekers and their children. It is clear to me that we as a country need a healthy dose of imagining ourselves in less fortunate shoes. Also, as history has proven, the unwillingness to speak out against the dehumanization of people who are not like us has horrific consequences.

Joanna, thank you so much for giving this horrific reality a signal boost! I feel like I don’t recognize our country so often lately. How can anyone separate child and parent and then expect a child to navigate our immigration system when most American adults don’t even understand it? Seeking asylum is not a crime. Where is our humanity?

Also shout-out to your girl, Gemma, who has been putting us on blast with her Instagram stories about this horrid policy this week and last!

To Joanna and the COJ team:
Thanks for your very strong words on this issue. I’ve been reading Joanna’s work since the Glamour days, and I actually blinked at the all-caps statement since I’ve never seen anything so forceful or “political” (as if this is a partisan issue) as daring to state that separating children from their parents is unacceptable. I happen to bleed blue and this site serves as a bit of escapism, but I’m so thrilled that you’ve taken a stand on this at the risk of alienating readers.

That is so beautiful about the blank signet ring. So meaningful.

A PS – I love these Weekend posts and look forward to them every Friday (if it’s posted before I leave work) or Monday (because it’s usually posted after I leave work Friday). And I loved seeing Mari’s work every Friday morning – where has she gone?

xoxo

Joanna, I’ve wanted to post this before (perhaps I have) but I feel like almost weekly you read my heart and mind and write posts just for me. I came here today to email you to plead for you to write something about the children being ripped away from their parents, about RAICES and other resources and lo and behold you already did it. Bless you, you getting the word out to your amazing network of readers is going to create tangible good (funding for reps and attorneys for this kids and families now, God willing an END to this horror ASAP).

I am over here at my desk, eagerly (frantically?) refreshing my screen, waiting for your immigration post. I have never felt more like an animal than I do when I think about someone taking my two year old son from my line of sight against my will. I cannot believe this is happening. I have to do something.

I made the strawberry cake for my Dad & Father-in-law yesterday and they loved it! Thanks for sharing :)

The arguments “for” separating minors from their parents at our borders generally fall into 3 categories:

1. “Do the crime, do the time”-type arguments. First, crossing the border illegally is a MISDEMEANOR. Imagine a world in which children could be separated from their parents indefinitely because the parent was driving carelessly or without a valid license, shoplifted a carton of milk, or was gambling. You could use this argument to justify killing people who committed even the most minor crimes – hey, if you didn’t want to die, you shouldn’t have driven carelessly. Second, these people are seeking asylum (which is a legal way to obtain status in the US). That means they are fleeing violence – rape, torture or murder of them or their children that will occur if they remain in their home country. You cannot ignore this element of “the crime” when determining if the punishment fits the crime.

2. “I am an immigrant who entered the country legally (and waited to do so), so they should wait too”-type arguments. This argument ignores the fact that these migrants don’t have time to wait. If they wait, they or their children are likely to be raped, murdered, or tortured. I don’t think there is a parent among us who would put such abstractions as “sovereignty” and “respect for a nation” above the physical safety of our children and our continued presence in their lives.

3. Obama did it too-type arguments. Classic whataboutism. Even if this were true, it would not make these actions less wrong, or diminish the urgent need to end this practice immediately and forever.

Looking forward to your posts tomorrow. I admire your gentle refrain, that if people really knew what is happening, every American would be trying to stop it. I don’t know if I share your faith in Americans at this moment, but I truly hope you’re right.

Thank you so much for coming out on the subject of migrants and their children! This is such an important topic and we all need to know what’s happening here!

Our President is literally letting this happen because he’s trying to force the Democrats to fund building the wall for him, the wall he insisted that Mexico would pay for. It’s so evil and that anyone would use Holy Scripture to defend such a thing is gripped in a delusion that is terrifying. We have to do everything we can to stop this, Trump supporters do not care that this is happening.

This must be one of the kindest platforms on internet! I love how positive and sensitive the commenting section is. (This is really abnormal on internet!) Also your topics are so ”of real life” and I can relate to all of them. This really is a great community and nowadays my favorite part of the posts are reader comments, Im really glad you have included them in such a visible way.
I noticed that this ”mean commenting” on internet cathes on really easy and I have found myself writing unpolite or harsh comments when there has been something on the internet which I haven’t liked or that has felt offensive in some way. But luckily on these occasitions I have sat back and thought ”would I like to have this comment sent to me, does my comment bring any real value to the reader”, and then I have deleated it.

Thank you for helping to bring the border family separation crisis to light. I recently finished reading a book about refugees that is so poignant for our time right now: The Newcomers, by Helen Thorpe. She follows 21 high school students- and some of their families- through their first school year in the U.S. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to learn more about the lives of refugees who immigrate to the U.S. I was struck by the courage in each of their stories.

Thank you so much for the donation ideas! I will be proudly making a donation in my dad’s name for his Father’s Day gift. What a horrifying atrocity our government is allowing.

Thank you, cupofjo. Every year for Father’s Day (as well as Mother’s Day) we always struggle with gift ideas. We have so much and really don’t need anymore. A donation to one of these non-profits helping immigrant fathers and their families sounds like the best gift we can give.

Thank you for opposing the cruel treatment of immigrant families! Everybody has to speak out, loudly. Everywhere.

So, I just have a couple of observations. As the child of an immigrant who applied legally and had to wait quite a long time for the papers to come thru. My Father spent 5 years of his boyhood ina Japanese prison camp it was a horrific childhood and he lost his mother to dysentery. However, these people have to apply and go through the proper channels to get here. I myself moved to another country after University and had to supply FBI documents and fingerprints that I was not a criminal. This is fair and proper. And also as a native of California a state that is already struggling with water shortages and there are whole towns in the Central Valley that have their water trucked in because the wells have run dry adding more disadvantaged to the state will only take away from citizens that are legal. You all should look up a documentary called Water Wars, very enlightening in view of the immigration situation. I don’t want to be disrespectful but I really feel that this is an issue that will most effect the poor citizens of our country and we as a people need to look after them first…..

Oh yes to RAICES. Recently heard about them and have donated.
Your friend Linsey…oh my goodness, such a beautiful story. I thought to myself, i should follow her on Insta, then noticed I already am! I thought her kids looked familiar :)
Have a happy weekend!!!

The children being ripped from their parents is so heartbreaking. I did know that because I read foreign news, as well as you blog that tells this horrible news. I can’t believe that this is happening in the USA. It’s cruel.
As far as I am concerned, I might give light to this by sharing and writing an open letter to a national newspaper.
Oh, I was hoping to see the REAL cake that you and Anton cooked!
Have fun at the beach, it’s a great idea. Xoxo

I teared up at the comment about the signet ring. What a beautiful and poingnet memorial!

It’s so crazy living here in San Antonio, TX and being less than 3 hours from the border. I know people who have interned for RAICES when I was in college two years ago. This week there was a tractor trailer of immigrants pulled over in an alley about a mile from my house. It’s so heartbreaking and extremely frustrating that this administration doesn’t understand the lengths people go through to enter this country and make a better life for their families. I used to get separation anxiety when my parents would go on DATES when I was younger and I can’t even imagine the trauma these parents and children are going through. Thanks cup of jo for your support.

Always sincere, kind, and respectful. Thank you for shining light on the issues that most need it and for choosing to do so in a way that stresses urgency but underlined the ways that something can be done – right now, by us! This space is a warm hug from empathetic and enlightened friends.

I highly recommend watching this for more info on the immigration family issue. It is horrendous and what makes it worse is this has been happening for at least 5 years! We need a better way of aiding and processing people in need. This video is by journalists that have been reporting on this since 2014 https://www.facebook.com/cnsnewscom/videos/1918778208145218/

It is tragic that these families are not entering the country legally and at Ports of Entry. Responsible journalism appears to be a lost art.

Thank you for bringing to light the children being separated from their parents at the border. I didn’t realize… and it is heartbreaking. :*( This world sometimes… Good to know about the organizations that can help…

we love that strawberry cake! So easy and yummy.

I’ve been wondering where best to give, and have just given to both the orgs you have suggested. Thank you for being a voice for honor and decency.

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but POTUS isn’t ripping children away from their parents at the border. Even the Times corrected this: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/28/us/trump-immigrant-children-lost.html

And I’m aware that I’m just echoing comments made by others (e.g. Meghan Mccain), but if a family chooses to come here illegally (for whatever reason) there are going to be consequences. It’s heartbreaking that families have the potential to be separated at our border, but we’re a sovereign nation. There’s no easy answer, but when someone makes an unwise decision, those who enforce the law aren’t to blame.

All of these links are lovely… yet I am missing Mari Andrew!