A debris barrier for an electrical switching apparatus , said electrical switching apparatus comprising a pair of separable contacts and an arc interruption system comprising an arc chute disposed at or about said pair of separable contacts , said arc chute comprising a plurality of splitter plates each having an edge portion and at least one distal portion 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 , wherein said first leg and said second leg each comprise a first barrier portion and a second barrier portion extending from said first barrier portion , said first barrier portion being structured to be disposed at or about said at least one distal portion , said second barrier portion being structured to extend from said first barrier portion 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 , wherein said first leg and said second leg each comprise a first barrier portion and a second barrier portion extending from said first barrier portion , said first barrier portion being structured to be disposed at or about said at least one distal portion , said second barrier portion being structured to extend from said first barrier portion 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, <EOS>