The six migrant parents have not been named for their safety, but are from countries in Central America, the Caribbean, and West Africa.
The six migrant parents have not been named for their safety, but are from countries in Central America, the Caribbean, and West Africa.
The Muslims for Migrants campaign, organized by CelebrateMercy, have now secured the bail and release of six detained migrant parents, raising over $100,000 and counting. With the aim to help aid and support migrant families in the wake of the horrendous border detainment of migrant families and asylum seekers coming to the US-Mexico border, Muslims for Migrants have already produced ground-breaking results.
The six migrant parents have not been named for their safety, but are from countries in Central America, the Caribbean, and West Africa. All parents had been living in the US for an extended period of time before being arrested and detained in the controversial detention camps for periods ranging from two months to four years.
Tarek El-Messidi, CelebrateMercy’s founding directer, stated:
We’re sorry they had to endure this, sorry that we as a country have not treated them with mercy. We failed them. Many of these migrants are coming here, wanting stability and safety and escaping very harsh circumstances. We hope they won’t have to suffer anymore going forward.”
President Trump’s administration is coming under continued fire for its involvement and complacency in the horrendous abuse that is happening in the detention camps set up to house migrants and asylum seekers. There have been reports of children being separated from their parents, women told to drink out of toilets when there was an inadequate amount of drinking water, and a complete lack of dignified hygiene in these detention camps. There were reportedly more than 50,000 migrants being held by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in May alone, a record-breaking number.
Two prominent American Muslim religious leaders, Imam Zaid Shakir and Imam Omar Suleiman, have joined in the campaign, urging both American Muslims and Americans in general to get involved in stopping one of the US’ most brutal responses to the migrant crisis. In a joint statement, they explained:
When we view the sickening conditions those migrating to our southern borders are exposed to, we should be touched and moved to action knowing that our religion grants those fleeing persecution, oppression, or ecological devastation, the right to migrate and to be duly considered for asylum. We should further vigorously defend the dignity our Lord has afforded to all human beings, and our obligation to assist those who are suffering from recognized forms of oppression.”
The proceeds raised by Muslims for Migrants is distributed to the National Bail Fund Network, and with the amount of money raised so far, the community is hoping to set free another five parents from detention in addition to the six already freed. To learn more about the campaign and to donate, click here.
