Girl Who Lives in Fear of Parents Being Deported Has Message for Separated Border Kids: Stay Strong, I am Fighting for You

At a press conference in front of an immigration facility in McAllen, Texas on Sunday, a Nicaraguan-American girl who lives in fear of seeing her own parents deported and her family ripped apart stood in front of the cameras to deliver a message to children currently being separated from their parents at the nation’s border.

“My message to these children and these detention centers is to stay strong because I am out here fighting for them to have the right to be with their family, to be happy,” Leah, a 12-year-old who spoke with permission of her family, said. “I live in the fear of my parents being deported. And I don’t want that. I want to stay here in my community with my family.”

Leah’s message comes just one day after it was reported that at least 2,000 children have been separated from their parents at the border in the wake of the implementation of new zero-tolerance policy.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has defended the policy citing the Christian Scriptures.

“I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes,” Sessions said, defending the measure. “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves. Consistent and fair application of the law is in itself a good and moral thing, and that protects the weak and protects the lawful.”

The policy, however, has not only sparked protests and outrage from Democratic lawmakers but also at least the hint of dissent from within the White House.

While carefully worded, on Saturday First Lady Melania Trump‘s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham told CNN, “Mrs. Trump hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together to achieve successful immigration reform.”

Watch above, via CNN.

[image via CNN]