The Heartbreak of Family Separations

This chapter examines the immense pressure on prosecutors and defense lawyers at the border during the zero tolerance policy era, highlighting the staggering increase in caseloads and the emotional toll of family separations. It features personal accounts from a public defender and a former assistant U.S. attorney, illustrating the distress and helplessness faced by families who believed they would be quickly reunited. The narrative delves into the broader societal outrage and the complexities of reuniting children with their deported parents, emphasizing the profound impact of these immigration policies.