COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

HOUSE OF DELEGATES
RICHMOND

June 20, 2018

Hon. Mark Warner, U.S. Senate

Hon. Tim Kaine, U.S. Senate
Hon. Rob Wittman, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Scott Taylor, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Robert Scott, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Donald McEachin, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Tom Garrett, Jr., U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Bob Goodlatte, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Dave Brat, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Don Beyer, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Morgan Griffith, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Barbara Comstock, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Gerry Connolly, U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation,

We write to express our outrage at the cruel and systematic separation of immigrant children and their
families at the U.S. border with Mexico. If you have not already done so, we ask each of you to quickly call
upon President Trump and his Administration to end this callous new policy.

As state legislators, we understand that the responsibility for setting immigration policy lies within the
purview of the federal government. However, given the incredibly disturbing reports surrounding this
unfolding humanitarian crisis, we felt it necessary to speak out against this policy and urge you to do
everything within your power to halt the division of these families and reunite all currently separated
children with their parents or guardians.

This April, though not required, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of
Justice jointly announced a change in policy to criminally prosecute every single illegal border entry case.
In the past, these individuals had simply been deported. In just under two months since its implementation,
this new policy has resulted in the separation of nearly 2,000 immigrant children from their families.
According to reports, many of these families were lied to regarding the initial whereabouts of their children
and about the length and nature of the family separation. Other reports indicate that some parents have been
deported without their children, forced by our federal government to leave them behind in the United States.

We are confronted daily with new reports of the mistreatment and abuse of these families, along with
heartbreaking images and videos of children in anguish, many too young to understand why they have been
separated from their parents and loved ones. It is clear that the consequences of this policy change have
been catastrophic for the many families that have been subjected to this painful separation. To treat families
in this way, especially those who would come to the United States to seek asylum from persecution or
violence, is contrary to the principles upon which our nation was founded. It does not reflect who we are or
who we aspire to be.

As Virginians and Americans, we are appalled at the suffering that has been caused. President Trump
initiated this shameful Administration policy. It is within his power to stop it. Once again, if you have not
already done so, we ask you to act swiftly and call upon the President to end this brutal policy and reunite
these children with their families without delay.
Sincerely,

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Delegate Alfonso Lopez Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy Delegate Patrick Hope

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Delegate Dawn Adams Delegate Lee Carter Delegate Chris Hurst

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Delegate Lashrecse Aird Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler Delegate Matthew James

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Delegate Hala Ayala Delegate Karrie Delaney Delegate Jay Jones

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Delegate Lamont Bagby Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn Delegate Mark Keam

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Delegate John Bell Delegate Wendy Gooditis Delegate Kaye Kory

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Delegate Jeff Bourne Delegate Elizabeth Guzman Delegate Paul Krizek

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Delegate Jennifer Boysko Delegate Cliff Hayes Delegate Mark Levine

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Delegate David Bulova Delegate Stephen Heretick Delegate Delores McQuinn

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Delegate Betsy Carr Delegate Charniele Herring Delegate Mike Mullin
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Delegate Kathleen Murphy Delegate Mark Sickles Delegate Cheryl Turpin

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Delegate Kenneth Plum Delegate Marcus Simon Delegate Roslyn Tyler

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Delegate Sam Rasoul Delegate Rip Sullivan Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg

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Delegate David Reid Delegate Luke Torian Delegate Jeion Ward

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Delegate Debra Rodman Delegate David Toscano Delegate Vivian Watts

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Delegate Danica Roem Delegate Kathy Tran