While it's rare for Mercy Corps to comment on U.S. domestic politics, our experience working with children who have lived through trauma leaves us deeply troubled by reports of conditions for migrant children at the border.

It is imperative that providers responsible for the care of detained young migrants provide access to high-quality mental health and psychosocial support services, in addition to following basic principles of decency in how migrants are treated.

These children are likely to have experienced toxic stress for extended periods of time—the staff who are in contact with them must be trained accordingly. Otherwise, these toxic psychological events may affect them for life.