# Alienated parents
Family court forcibly removes children from father’s family, places them in reunification camp
Two Santa Cruz children were physically removed from their aunt's home by “transporters” and taken to a reunification camp by court order last Thursday. Reunification camps are a controversial method in which children are removed from their preferred parent or safe parent, despite their allegations of abuse or mistreatment directed towards the other parent. After their parents divorced a few years ago, Maya Laing, 15, and Sebastian Laing, 11, live with their father and stepmother who are their preferred parents. About a year ago, Maya began to voice claims of abuse by her mother. Santa Cruz family court appointed a reunification therapist to Maya and Sebastian’s case who then had them placed in a reunification camp based on claims of their father “alienating” them from their mother. Maya and Sebastian’s story is one within the family court system where reunification is commonplace.
Santa Cruz children forcibly taken from father’s family and placed in reunification camp
Maya Laing taken by transporters from a family home on Thursday, October 20, 2022.(Courtesy of Tina Swithin) Two Santa Cruz children were physically removed from their aunt's home by “transporters” and taken to a reunification camp by court order last Thursday, according to a video found on social media.