ProtecttheKids:EndtheDrugWar

MilitarizedDrugWarFeedsForcedMigrationandMassIncarceration

52,000LatinAmericanChildrenFleeingHometoBorderand2.7MillionU.S.Childrenwith
ParentBehindBars

Inrecentweeks,theplightofthe52,000unaccompaniedchildrenapprehendedattheU.S.
bordersincelastOctober,manyofwhomarefleeingdrugwarviolenceinCentralAmerica,has
permeatedournationalconsciousness.Thedevastatingconsequencesofthedrugwarhavenot
onlybeenfeltinLatinAmerica,theyarealsohavingravagingeffectshereathome.Alltoo
often,childrenareonthefrontlinesofthismisguidedwarthatknowsnobordersorcolorlines.

InLatinAmerica,thecoreofthiscrisiscanbedirectlylinkedtothelongstandingdrugwarthe
UnitedStateshaswagedintheregion.TheU.S.smilitarizationcampaigntocombatdrug
traffickinghasresultedinthedestabilizationofmajorpartsofCentralAmerica,increased
murderrates,andmassdisappearances.Halfofthe10citieswiththehighesthomicideratesin
theworldarefoundinthesmallregionofCentralAmerica.Thisepidemicofviolencedestroys
livesanddiminishesopportunitiesforcreatingviablelivelihoods,leavingchildreninthese
countrieswithlittlechoicebuttoembarkonthetreacherousjourneytotheU.S.insearchof
refugeandsafety.

IntheU.S.,thedrugwarhasfueledunprecedentedlevelsofmassincarceration,thebruntof
whichisbornebyAfricanAmericancommunities.TheU.S.incarceratesmorepeoplefordrug
offensesthanWesternEuropeincarceratesforalloffensescombined.ThoughAfrican
Americansrepresentonly13percentofthepopulation,theycomprisemorethan40percentof
thoseincarceratedfordruglawviolations,despitesimilarratesofuseandsalesacrossracial
andethniclines.Thisindefensiblesituationtearsapartfamiliesandcommunities,leaving
childrenvulnerable.2.7millionchildrenaregrowingupinU.S.householdsinwhichoneor
moreparentsareincarcerated,manyofwhomarefornonviolentdrugoffenses.Thesechildren
areforcedtoliveapartfromtheirparentsbecauseoftheinhumanecommitmentto
incarcerationthecountryhasembracedformorethan40years.

Inthefaceofthisspiralingtragedythatcontinuestodisproportionatelyconsumethelivesand
futuresofblackandbrownchildren,itisimperativetoendthenefariousmilitarizationand
massincarcerationoccurringinthenameofthewarondrugs.Sooften,repressivedrugpolicies
aretoutedasmeasurestoprotectthewelfareofourchildren,butinreality,theydolittlemore
thanserveasonegreatbigChildEndangermentAct.

Onbehalfofthechildren,itistimetorethinkthewarondrugs.

ABetterWayFoundation
ANewPATH(Parentsfor
AddictionTreatment&
Healing)
ANewWayofLife
AllofUsOrNone
Alternet
AMOSProject
BlackAllianceforJust
Immigration
BOOM!Health
BorderNetworkforHuman
Rights
BrokenNoMore
CaliforniaFriendsCommittee
CatholicsUnited
CenterforConstitutional
Rights
CenterforLivingandLearning
ColoradansForImmigrant
Rights,aprojectof
theColoradoAFSC
ColoradoCriminalJustice
Coalition
CommunityHealthOutreach
Work
ConferenceofMajorSuperiors
ofMen
CourageCampaign
DecarceratePA
DignidadRebelde
DisciplesHomeMissions
DrugPolicyAlliance
EdOrlettFormerOhioState
Representative
EllaBakerCenter
FaithinFlorida
FamiliesforFreedom
FloridaImmigrantRights
Coalition
FranciscanActionNetwork
FriendsCommitteeonNational
Legislation
GlobalExchange
GrassrootsLeadership
GriefRecoveryAftera
SubstancePassing
HarmReductionActionCenter
HomiesUnidos
IllinoisConsortiumonDrug
PolicyRooseveltUniversity
InstituteoftheBlackWorld
21stCentury
JusticeNotJails
LawEnforcementAgainst
Prohibition
LeagueofYoungVoters
LegalServicesforPrisoners
withChildren
LosAngelesCommunityAction
Network
LosAngelesRegionalReentry
Partnership
MarijuanaMajority
MetropolitanCommunity
Churches
MichelleAlexander
MomsUnitedtoEndtheWar
onDrugs
MothersAgainstTeenViolence
NationalInstituteofLatino
Policy
NationalPeoplesAction
NewMexicoWomensJustice
Project
NorthCarolinaHarm
ReductionCoalition
OhioJustice&PolicyCenter
PartnershipforSafetyand
Justice
PICOCA
Presente.org
PrisonPolicyInitiative
ProgressiveChristiansUniting
ProtectFamiliesFirst
Rev.Dr.OtisMossIII,Trinity
UnitedChurchofChrist
RightsforAllPeople
RioGrandeFoundation
SistersofMercyof
theAmericasInstituteJustice
Team
SouthLosAngeles
ReintegrationCouncil
SouthernCoalitionforSocial
Justice
StopTheDrugWar.org
StudentsforLiberty
StudentsforSensibleDrug
Policy
TexasCriminalJusticeCoalition
TheGlobalJusticeInstitute
TheLaborCommunityStrategy
Center
TheNextMovement
Committee
TheOrdinaryPeopleSociety
TheSanFranciscoDrugUsers
Union
TreatmentAlternativesto
StreetCrime
UnitedMethodistChurch,
generalBoardofChurchand
Society
UnitedWeDream
VOCAL
WilliamC.VelasquezInstitute
WorkingFamiliesOrganization
YoungWomenUnited
YouthJusticeCoalition