Children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel is responding to critics questioning why she is weighing in on political issues.
“Hi! I have two master’s degrees in education & 20 years experience working with children. I’m also a mom & was a public school teacher,” Ms. Rachel, 43, (born Rachel Griffin Accurso) wrote via Instagram on Thursday, June 11. “Research shows that trauma can profoundly affect brain development & well-being & I’ve seen those effects firsthand.”
The YouTube and Netflix children’s content creator continued, “Child development experts, teachers & parents should have a voice in policies that impact children. We know that supporting children helps them thrive & makes communities stronger for everyone. I think people who care about kids should have a say in how kids are treated 🤷🏻♀️.”
Ms. Rachel’s post comes after she visited families connected to detainees at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey, earlier this week.
After speaking with children who are missing their parents, Ms. Rachel was motivated to visit Washington, D.C. and campaign for change in the immigration system and multiple detention centers.
“I’m in Washington, D.C. carrying 535 packets of letters written by children who are currently detained or have been detained at the Dilley Immigration Detention Center. Today, every member of Congress will receive one,” she wrote via Instagram on Thursday. “Children need to be in school and on playgrounds — not in a detention center that abuses them! I will update you soon on my meetings with Congress members! Please reach out to your Congress member! It helps so much. You can look back at this time in history and say you helped end family detention.”
Ms. Rachel Courtesy of Ms. Rachel/Instagram
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson disputed claims of family separation, telling Fox News in a statement, “ICE does not separate families. Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates.”
The spokesperson added that DHS is “laser focused on protecting children and will continue to work with federal, state and local law enforcement to reunite children with their families.”
Ms. Rachel said several politicians are making progress in bringing change to various detention centers, including the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas.
“Congressman Joaquin Castro is circulating a letter to Congress members to CLOSE DILLEY and END FAMILY DETENTION!” she claimed via Instagram on Thursday. “Please urge your Congress members to SIGN IT! Tag them here, call them, anything you can do. … You are making history.”
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