Children deserve protection

Just kids. Child on the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border fence (John Moore/Getty Images). Since October 2013, more than 57,000 children - many unaccompanied - have crossed the U.S. border with Mexico to escape crushing violence in Central America. Instead of providing protection for these children as obligated under international law, the Obama administration has treated them inhumanely, locking them up, denying them their rights, and even deporting them back to situations of extreme danger. Tell President Obama: Protect the human rights of these children. Dear Tracy, The U.S. sent a plane full of immigrant children and their mothers back to San Pedro Sula, Honduras this month -- one of the most violent and dangerous cities in the world. One of the children was reportedly only a few months old. I can't believe anyone would do that to a child. The U.S. government must ensure that no child is ever deported to a country where they may be at risk of human rights violations. Tell President Obama - children fleeing crime and violence are not pawns in a political debate. They deserve protection under international law. Since October 2013, more than 57,000 children have crossed the Mexican border to escape out-of-control gang violence in Central America, among other issues. The White House has even promised to speed up the deportation of these children. President Obama met with Central American leaders on Friday to talk about child migrants, but continues to promise that the overwhelming majority of children will be turned away from the U.S. Now is the time to tell him where you stand. Many more children may be denied due process and sent back to extremely violent and dangerous areas if human rights defenders like you don't speak up now. Please sign our petition urging Obama to protect these children from human rights abuses. Many of these children made a devastating and dangerous journey through Mexico without their parents to get to the U.S. Along the way they were prey to kidnapping by gangs and sex traffickers. Once here, they have been subjected to degrading treatment -- detained in cells at freezing temperatures or "hieleras" at detention centers, shackled in three point restraints during transportation, denied access to counsel and translators, and deprived of proper medical attention. We are a nation of immigrants. We must do better than this. Sign our petition now. Thank you for all you do to support human rights. Sincerely, Justin Mazzola Amnesty International USA