KINGSTON – With word that a child separated from his mother at the US border has been placed in the City of Kingston, Ulster County Executive Michael Hein directed the county’s social services office to offer assistance to any agency in which the child has been placed. He called the separation of children “a national tragedy” and said it is politically motivated.
“The idea that we as a nation would tolerate elected officials tearing children away from their mothers is nothing short of disgraceful,” Hein said. “So, the idea that we are seeing an executive order being signed, I firmly believe that the only reason it is signed was massive public outcry in fear about the mid-term elections from the majority party.”
The president, on Wednesday, signed an executive order, reversing his decision to separate children from their parents, and to allow them to stay together while the parents are being considered for asylum in the US.
“The fact that any child was separated from their family was wrong, and I am pleased the president reversed his decision on enforcing the law in this manner,” said Rep. John Faso who added the next immediate step that must be taken is “reconnecting separated parents and children as quickly as possible and I will be working to ensure that is taking place.”
Kingston Mayor Steven Noble said the family separation enacted by the federal government “has not only ripped families apart, it is also tearing apart the moral fabric that holds our nation together.” He said he has received many calls from local residents who want to help. “I’m not surprised – in Kingston, that’s what we do.”
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill of Kingston blasted Congress for not taking immediate action to end what he called “this politically motivated crisis.” He said the failure of Congress to “act against the inhumanity of the policies of President Trump makes then complicit in these actions that threaten the very sanctity of family.”
Hastings-on-Hudson Mayor Peter Swiderski said Wednesday that some of the children “have found their way here to our community” and into the care of Children’s Village.
“While we all share repulsion and dismay at this pointlessly cruel policy, the fact is that these children are now in the care of the state, and if that is happening, there is no better place for them to land than in the care of Children’s Village,” Swiderski said.
