A debris barrier for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus comprising a pair of separable contacts (12, 14) and an arc interruption system comprising an arc chute disposed at or about said pair of separable contacts (12, 14), said arc chute comprising a plurality of splitter plates each having an edge portion and at least one distal portion (22, 24) disposed opposite and distal said edge portion, said debris barrier comprising: a first leg; a second leg; and a middle portion connecting said first leg and said second leg, said middle portion being structured to be coupled to one of said pair of separable contacts (12, 14), wherein said first leg and said second leg each comprise a first barrier portion (58, 60) and a second barrier portion (62, 64) extending from said first barrier portion (58, 60), said first barrier portion (58, 60) being structured to be disposed at or about said at least one distal portion (22, 24), said second barrier portion (62, 64) being structured to extend from said first barrier portion (58, 60) toward said edge portion, wherein said first leg further comprises a first pocket portion extending from said first barrier portion of said first leg away from said second barrier portion of said first leg, wherein said second leg further comprises a second pocket portion extending from said first barrier portion of said second leg away from said second barrier portion of said second leg, wherein said arc interruption system further comprises a number of U-shaped laminations, and wherein said first pocket portion and said second pocket portion are structured to receive said number of U-shaped laminations, wherein said first barrier portion of said first leg has a first barrier surface, the first barrier surface facing away from said first pocket portion; wherein said second barrier portion of said first leg has a second barrier surface, the second barrier surface extending at an obtuse angle from said first barrier surface away from said first pocket portion; wherein said first barrier portion of said second leg has a third barrier surface, the third barrier surface facing away from said second pocket portion; and wherein said second barrier portion of said second leg has a fourth barrier surface, the fourth barrier surface extending at an obtuse angle from said third barrier surface away from said second pocket portion. a first leg; a second leg; and a middle portion connecting said first leg and said second leg, said middle portion being structured to be coupled to one of said pair of separable contacts (12, 14), wherein said first leg and said second leg each comprise a first barrier portion (58, 60) and a second barrier portion (62, 64) extending from said first barrier portion (58, 60), said first barrier portion (58, 60) being structured to be disposed at or about said at least one distal portion (22, 24), said second barrier portion (62, 64) being structured to extend from said first barrier portion (58, 60) toward said edge portion, wherein said first leg further comprises a first pocket portion extending from said first barrier portion of said first leg away from said second barrier portion of said first leg, wherein said second leg further comprises a second pocket portion extending from said first barrier portion of said second leg away from said second barrier portion of said second leg, wherein said arc interruption system further comprises a number of U-shaped laminations, and wherein said first pocket portion and said second pocket portion are structured to receive said number of U-shaped laminations,