Uber Is Donating Rides to Reunited Families Who Were Separated at the Border
Uber announced Wednesday that it's partnering with immigration advocacy group FWD.us to donate rides and warm meals through UberEATS to reunited families that had been separated at the US-Mexico border as part of President Trump's "zero tolerance" immigration policy.
Earlier this summer, US President Donald Trump began a hotly contested policy of separating immigrant children from their parents, holding children (many being toddlers under 5) in detention centers without their families. After political pressure, Trump signed an executive order reversing his policy near the end of June.
Since the policy reversal, parents have been scrambling to reunite with their children, but the travel logistics aren’t exactly simple. A federal judge gave the Trump administration until July 26 to reunite the families, but hundreds remained separated after the deadline, CNN reported.
“We’re proud to activate Uber’s network to support the important work of FWD.us and other nonprofits to reunite families separated at the border, Uber's Chief Operating Officer Barney Harford said in a statement on Wednesday. "We hope that by providing safe, reliable transportation and warm meals we can play a role in bringing back together families that have endured this time apart."
The ride-sharing company had previously donated $100,000 to KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), a legal organization that helps migrant children who entered the US by themselves. In late June, Uber's competitor Lyft had partnered with the International Rescue Committee to give free rides to refugees affected by the policy in California.
United Airlines also donated flights to FWD.us to help with the effort of reuniting immigrant families.
“We are incredibly grateful to Uber for joining these critical efforts to support families who were separated at the border," FWD.us President Todd Schulte said in a statement on Wednesday. "This partnership helps provide reliable transportation and meals to recently reunited families — direct aid to vulnerable parents and children who have suffered traumatic separation at the hands of the federal government, as well as to some incredible partners supporting this work."
