Imagine, if you will, living in a Northern Triangle country in Central America. The governments are fueled by massive corruption.

Human rights abuses are on the rise, including murder, the recruitment of children into gangs, extortion and sexual violence. Thousands of parents have fled with their families and, in many cases, children have made the perilous journey alone.

Per the United Nations Human Rights Council, these unaccompanied children are some of the world’s most vulnerable refugees.

They have witnessed horrific violence and faced extreme risk. If you were the parent of one of these children, what would you choose to do?

The United States should seek the higher and nobler path in honoring its commitment to international human rights law and being a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted in 1948 after WWII), which guarantees the “right to seek and be granted asylum in a foreign territory.”

These refugees should be treated with compassion and dignity, for they are also God’s children.

Myra Taketa

Mililani

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