Foreword
O
ne of our society’s fundamental principles is that, to the extent possible, children should not be punished for the sins of their parents. This principle has deep roots in both religion and law. Many of the world’s great religions share similar
teachings. And, from a legal perspective, when our nation was created, the value that children’s futures should not be based on their parents’ social status helped to shape the world’s leading democracy. Our child welfare system reflects this fundamental principle. If a child is endangered by abuse or neglect, our society steps in to safeguard the best interests of the child. And while there is clearly room for improvement in the child welfare system, there is little controversy about the rationale for the system’s existence; few disagree that children deserve protection. Like many morally sound policies, adherence to this principle has practical benefits as well. It happens to be in our long-term social and economic interest to minimize harm to children. Research demonstrates that abused and neglected children are less likely to become productive and well-adjusted adults. Thus, it’s a good investment for taxpayers when we step in to ensure that children are protected. This principle – and a core value of our democracy – is currently under assault. In recent months, the Department of Homeland Security has launched a series of raids that have resulted in the forcible separation of children from parents accused of violating our immigration laws. Issues of immigration are fraught with emotion, which is perhaps fitting in this “nation of immigrants.” While the emotion in this debate is understandable, the question is not whether to enforce immigration laws but how. It is critically important to focus policyNCLR ◆ Page i