The American Sikh Council (ASC) condemns the inhuman and cruel treatment by our government in handling infants and small children by being separated from their parents at the US-Mexican border.

It is tragic and ironic that a President who has his own children does not understand the trauma caused to children being torn apart from their mothers. It has taken five first ladies, including the current first lady to make the President realize his folly and take some action to rectify this appalling situation.

President Obama said, “This isn’t who we are.' We have to prove it–through our policies, our laws, our actions, and our votes."

The American Association of Pediatricians stated, “Separating children from their parents contradicts everything we stand for as pediatricians – protecting and promoting children’s health. In fact, highly stressful experiences, like family separation, can cause irreparable harm, disrupting a child's brain architecture and affecting his or her short- and long-term health. This type of prolonged exposure to serious stress - known as toxic stress - can carry lifelong consequences for children.”

Catholic bishops issue scathing statement on Trump's family separation policy and Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield stated on behalf of Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, "Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma," he said. Furthermore he stated, "Families are the foundational element of our society and they must be able to stay together. Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral."

The foundational principles enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib the living Sikh scripture emphatically states that liberty, justice be upheld while there shall be no oppression and tyranny of any kind, especially against women and children.

ASC appeals to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and all the contractors handling our nation’s security to use good moral judgement while carrying out their duties. ASC is also concerned about the possible involvement of Akal Securities (AS) a major contractor which holds a DHS contract. If involved, then we must condemn such actions that violate the Sikh ethos and teachings in handling children at the US-Mexican border.

The American Sikh Council (ASC) understands the laws of our land, yet reiterates the fact that this is a nation of immigrants and has always humanely accommodated people from every corner of the world especially if they are being persecuted and oppressed. Our overly zealous politicians and DHS should remember not to overreach the law in the current toxic and xenophobic environment.

The American Sikh Council (ASC) is calling out to all its member Gurdwaras and institutions across the nation to contact their congressmen and senators to protest this outrage.

The American Sikh Council (ASC) urges the Trump administration not to simply pay lip service to the new executive order to keep families together but also makes sure that the previously separated families are united immediately because that is the moral and the right thing to do by any standard.

American Sikh Council (ASC) President Dr. Gurdas Singh stated, “We pray that good sense prevails upon the current administration as the people of our nation are appalled at the treatment of asylum seekers. America is a beacon of hope for the world and we must do better than this.”

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The American Sikh Council is the umbrella organization representative of Sikhs in the United States. It is an elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions. Currently 73 Gurdwaras and other Sikh institutions across the nation are members of ASC. The major governing purpose of the organization is to represent the collective view of Sikhs in the United States. ASC works to promote Sikh interests at the national and international level focusing on issues of advocacy, education, and well-being of humankind.

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Sincerely

American Sikh Council

P.O. Box 932, Voorhees, NJ 08043, USA

Phone: 607-269-7454

email: contact@americansikhcouncil.org

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanSikhCouncil/

www.AmericanSikhCouncil.org