CA Tech Couple Raises Millions To Reunite Immigrant Families

SILICON VALLEY, CA — As the battle at the U.S.-Mexico border over President Donald Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy separating immigrant parents in the country illegally from their children wages on, millions of dollars have been raised through a Silicon Valley tech couple's Facebook campaign for the legal defense of affected families. As of Wednesday morning, Dave and Charlotte Willner's "Reunite an immigrant parent with their child" campaign had donations exceeding $10.5 million.

"We are collectively revulsed [sic] at what's happening to immigrant families on our southern border," wrote Charlotte Willner via the Facebook campaign. "In times when we often think that the news can't possibly get worse, it does -- we learned last night that 2,000 children (many of them infants and toddlers) have been separated from their parents in just six weeks under President Trump's 'zero tolerance' policy.

"These children don't know where their parents are. Their parents aren't allowed to communicate with them while in custody. The government hasn't set up a system to reunite separated parents and children if one or both are ultimately released. In many cases, parents have been deported without their children -- sometimes, young children are deported without their parents."

The Willners — both former Facebook employees who now work at other Bay Area tech firms — said funds raised through the campaign will go toward RAICES, the Texas-based Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. RAICES will in turn "fund the bond necessary to get parents out of detention and reunited with their children while awaiting court proceedings," Willner wrote.

Willner said jail bonds were set at a minimum of $1,500, which was the couple's initial fundraising goal when posting the campaign Saturday, June 16.

The funds will also "ensure legal representation of every child in Texas' immigration courts," according to the campaign.

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