Family Separation: What Most Americans Don't Know About Immigration Enforcement with Ashley DeAzevedo

Tracie L. Klinke
Jan 13
2 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

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Hope in Action with Tracie L. Morgan and Ashley Glimasinski | Family Separation: What Most Americans Don't Know About Immigration Enforcement

Family separation has tragically been a part of American history since the beginning, from separating Native American children from their families by placing them in boarding schools to African families broken apart by slavery to modern day immigration policies. Most people hear family separation and think only about what happened at the U.S. Mexico border in 2018. But the truth is, family separation is so much broader and far more common than most Americans realize.

Today, we discuss separation at the border, through immigration detention, through arrests at green card interviews or ICE check-ins, and the so-called permanent bar that can force a family apart forever. We’re joined by Ashley DeAzevedo from American Families United, who shares powerful stories of the 1.4 million US citizens currently facing the permanent bar and its devastating impact on their families.

Tune in this week to learn why doing things the right way can still lead to family separation, how the removal of discretion in our immigration system has made enforcement less just, and what Scripture teaches about tempering judgment with mercy. You'll also discover practical ways to respond when others assume that following the law prevents separation, and how you can take action this week to advocate for families caught in an impossible system.

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What You’ll Learn from this Episode about Family Separation:

Why family separation still happens at the border even when families arrive together at official ports of entry.
How the permanent bar works and why it can keep families apart for 10 years or even a lifetime.
The difference between documented and undocumented immigrants being caught up in enforcement sweeps.
Why current wait times for spouse visas can exceed 50 months just for the first step.
How mixed-status families face impossible choices between safety and legality.
What Scripture says about applying laws with kindness, discernment, and justice.
A simple conversation tool for responding when someone says legal pathways prevent separation.