Author: Joanna Thompson

History of Family Separation

The United States has a long history of forced family separations. Included in this guide are historical examples of family separation enacted through slavery, Native American boarding schools, and Japanese-American internment camps as well as enduring examples like the effects incarceration and immigration policies. These practices and policies are based on fear, inequality and structural injustice. These systems lead to destruction of identity and trauma, sometimes lasting generations.