Tonight President Trump will address the nation as he delivers his State of the Union remarks. Reports suggest he will present a “relentless optimism,” but our newly-released annual report—State of American’s Children 2020—offers a dramatically different picture: the current state of our children is unacceptable and must be urgently addressed.
A society must be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable—and most valuable—members: its children. The State of America’s Children 2020 makes it abundantly clear that by this measure, America is falling shamefully short.
The Trump administration’s immigration policy priorities are shaping an anti-immigrant environment that is harming our children. Children, whether at the Peace Arch, or the southern border or within the interior of this country, are hurting—afraid they might wake up to find loved ones gone, afraid to speak languages that might “get [them] into trouble.” We must defend them.