Families Demand Return of 66 Venezuelan Children Still Held Captive in US
In a statement, the Movement of Heroic Mothers in Venezuela is calling on US First Lady Melania Trump to stop the kidnapping of the 66 children who have been forcibly separated from their mothers and fathers by US authorities.
They publicly requested an audience with the US president’s wife, with the goal of being heard and proposing solutions to put an end to this situation—which leaves scars on the minds and hearts of children—so they can return to the arms of their families.
The 66 children still kidnapped were separated from their parents when they were detained by ICE and handed over to families paid by the US, including children who range from as young as months old to 17 years old.
They expressed that these actions have broken entire families, exposing the youngest children to living in uncertainty and realities they cannot process.
In this regard, they added that the children are being denied the right to grow up with love, without growing up alongside their parents. At the same time, they asked Melania to be the bridge to the justice and humanity she herself calls for, and that each child be deported with their families.
Thais Mariví Belaño Parra, mother of three children kidnapped in the US, identified as Karlianis Jiménez (12), Moisés Jiménez (10) and Victoria Vera (4), asked that her children be returned to Venezuela and demanded, along with the Movement of Heroic Mothers, that they no longer be separated during deportations.
“We are an example of the migrants who suffer separation and persecution in the United States,” she said.
10,631 compatriots have returned through the Return to the Homeland Plan
Camila Fabri Saab, president of the Return to the Homeland Plan and human rights defender, pointed out that Venezuela is the only country with a public repatriation policy for its nationals who suffer from xenophobia in other countries.
She stated that in these past eight months, 10,631 Venezuelans have been rescued through the Return to the Homeland Plan, of whom 1,880 are women and the remaining 7,434 are men.
She expressed satisfaction at receiving repatriated mothers and their children in their arms at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, as she has been fortunate enough to be able to return with them.
She recalled that since the rescue of the little girl Maikelys, who was snatched from her parents’ arms and who fortunately is now enjoying being with her family again, they have received daily reports of forced disappearances from grandmothers, uncles, fathers, and mothers.
She criticized the fact that children as young as months old are separated from their mothers, as is the case with Antuan, who was just one month old and is now five months old, yet has not grown up with her. She also explained that there is another child named Khale, who is eight months old and has never known the warmth and smell of his mother, having been taken from her arms when he was one month old.
Finally, she stated that of the 66 children, none suffered from specific or highly impactful pathologies, while also assuring that they were already aware of each child’s whereabouts.
(Últimas Noticias) by Karla Patiño
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JB/SH