United Airlines will partner with immigration advocacy groups by donating flights to reunite families separated at the border.
The San Francisco Business Times first reported the story Thursday evening.
FWD.us, an advocacy group aimed at mobilizing tech companies, announced on Facebook that United was joining their joint effort with the RAICES and We Belong Together groups to push for reunification.
“We have GREAT news to share! A growing community of support is coming together to reunite families who were separated at the border,” the post read, “Thanks to this partnership with United, we are able to provide travel to the recently reunited immigrant families to get to their next destination with dignity. “
United replied to the FWD.us statement, ” Our company’s shared purpose is to connect people and unite the world — we are proud to support your work to help reunify immigrant children and families.”
The airline also issued a statement to the San Francisco Business Times.
“United Airlines is proud to support the work of FWD.us as they help to reunify immigrant children with their families. United is in a unique position to provide badly needed support that few can provide to help reunify these families, and we take pride in doing our part to connect people and unite the world,” it said.
This is not the first time that United has taken a stance on the controversial policy resulting in families separated at the border.
When backlash against the policy first surged in June, United, American, and Frontier airlines all released statements requesting the U.S. government not use their services in transporting immigrants.
“Our company’s shared purpose is to connect people and unite the world. This policy and its impact on thousands of children is in deep conflict with that mission and we want no part of it,” United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said at the time.
A court imposed deadline for the government to reunite all families separated after illegally entering the country passed on Thursday.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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