In a heartbreaking report, a 6-year-old girl faced repeated sexual abuse while at an immigrant detention facility, shedding light on the troubling consequences of the Trump Administration’s stringent immigration policies. According to an investigation by The Nation, the girl and her mother sought refuge in the U.S. in May, fleeing gang violence in Guatemala. Upon their arrival, they expressed a “credible fear” of returning home, only to be separated shortly after and the child placed in Casa Glendale, a shelter near Phoenix, Arizona.
Approximately a month later, the girl’s father, an undocumented immigrant residing in the U.S., received distressing news from the shelter: his daughter had been fondled by another child. While the shelter assured him they would address the issue, their response was shockingly inadequate. Instead of taking decisive action, they had the young girl sign a form to “maintain her distance” from her abuser, implying it was her responsibility to avoid further incidents. This response was utterly unacceptable.
Tragically, the abuse continued. The father received yet another call informing him that his daughter had been victimized again by the same boy. When he sought answers, he was met with silence. Meanwhile, the girl’s mother was informed of the situation but felt powerless to intervene while separated from her daughter. “I felt really horrible,” she shared. “It was a nightmare. When my husband told me what happened, I felt helpless.”
Thanks to the advocacy of Families Belong Together, the family eventually reunited. However, the effects of the trauma linger. The mother recounted an emotional reunion where her daughter didn’t recognize her. “She thought I was never going to be with her again,” the mother recalled, highlighting the deep psychological scars left by their experience. The little girl now exhibits behaviors indicative of her distress, waking up at 6 a.m. and following a rigid routine as if she’s been programmed.
The path to healing may be long for this family, who are left with uncertainty about their future. “I don’t know what to hope for,” the father admitted. “But I think that whatever happens will be good, because we are all three together again.”
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In summary, the harrowing experience of this young girl emphasizes the urgent need for reform in immigration policies and more robust protective measures for vulnerable individuals in detention centers.