Statement on Forced Separation of Immigrant Children from Their Families

Jun 21, 2018 | Blog, Inside the College Fund, President's Blog

American Indians know the inter-generational psychological trauma that follows when children are removed from their families. Native children were forcibly taken from their parents by the U.S. government and were forced to attend boarding schools far away, losing their language, culture, and family ties, creating deep wounds.

Nearly 30 years after the American Indian College Fund’s founding and 50 years after the establishment of the first tribal college, we are beginning to see positive momentum within our communities in healing the inter-generational wounds of historical trauma through community-based, culturally appropriate education that empowers. We connect Native students with our history and culture through education, giving them confidence and path to influence and change the world.

We know firsthand the time and effort it takes to overcome these wounds, and as a country, we believe strongly that we must progress rather than regress.

We believe that families are sacred. Families belong together.

We ask our supporters to contact their elected officials at all levels of government and demand humane, moral immigration policies and laws; to reunite children with their families; and to respect the sanctity of family.

Share This Blog

Recent Blog Posts

The First Amendment and the Right to Wear Regalia 

To ensure your rights are upheld on graduation day without incident, the American Indian College Fund urges students to be proactive and to work with school administrations far in advance of graduation to ensure their graduation celebration is observed in a traditional and meaningful way without incident.

Proposed Federal Budget Would Eliminate All Dedicated Tribal College and University Funding, Could Shutter All Institutions in One Year 

Proposed Federal Budget Would Eliminate All Dedicated Tribal College and University Funding, Could Shutter All Institutions in One Year 

Both the College Fund and AIHEC believe consistent and robust funding across agencies is essential to ensuring tribal students and communities are not left behind. To advance opportunity in rural America, TCUs must be treated as a central investment priority in the President’s Budget.