Complaints of misconduct and malnourished children in immigration detention centers have prompted 136 House Democrats to write a letter urging President Obama to end the controversial practice.
The letter, which was sponsored by California Reps. Zoe Lofgren and Lucille Roybal-Allard and Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez, contends that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson does not "fully grasp the serious harm being inflicted upon mothers and children in custody." Referencing studies performed by University of Texas Dr. Luis Zayas, they argue the "jail-like" facilities leave devastating, long-term psychological effect on families.
"In the past year, we have learned of the detention of children with intellectual disabilities, a child with brain cancer, a mother with a congenital heart disorder, a 14-day-old baby, and a 12-year-old child who has not eaten solid food for two months," the letter says. "This is simply unacceptable. We cannot continue to hear reports of serious harm to children in custody and do nothing about it."
While the Obama administration all but abandoned family detention centers in 2009, an unexpected influx of 68,000 unaccompanied minor force the president to reintroduce the idea. Three opened nationwide, one in Pennsylvania and two in Texas. One recent U.S. Customs and Immigration enforcement record had 42 families living in the Berks, Pa. center, 230 in Karnes City, Texas and 353 in Dilley, Texas.
Since 2007, the Lone Star state has received 56 allegations of some form of sexual abuse, according the information gathered by the American Civil Liberties Union under the Freedom of Information Act. Findings included officers requesting striptease dances from detainees, inappropriate touching, and numerous allegations of rape.
"We found no evidence to substantiate the allegations and were unable to identify a victim or suspect in this matter," read DHS Inspector General John Roth's conclusion to an investigation of the Karnes City facility, released last January. Roth interviewed 33 witnesses and reviewed over 360 hours of surveillance tape between Sept. 19 and Nov. 24, 2014, but could not definitively prove ICE broke the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
Immigration reform has long divided political parties. Wednesday's letter, however, highlighted a major divide between Obama and Democratic lawmakers, including 2016 Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
At a round-table with young immigrants in Nevada earlier this month, the former first lady said she was "very worried" about immigration detention centers and didn't believe "vulnerable people" should be put such high risk situations.
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer were among Democrats who penned similar sentiments.
"Detaining mothers and children in jail-like settings is not the answer," the letter read. "We have an opportunity to do the right thing and are confident the DHS has the capacity to honor our Nation's longstanding commitment both to the protected and well-being of refugee families."
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
