We cannot tear immigrant children from families during COVID-19

Mother holding a baby As the world responds to an unprecedented crisis unfolding from the COVID-19 pandemic, families in detention centers are facing the perils of both separation AND exposure to this deadly disease. Children and parents who came here seeking safety from violence and persecution were instead thrown behind bars, often in crowded conditions with inadequate hygiene and negligent medical care in the face of COVID-19.

In response to this, within the last week, U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee ruled June 26 that all children detained for more than 20 days at ICE Family Residential Centers (FRCs) be released no later than July 17, 2020. This is in accordance with the Flores Settlement Agreement, which only covers children.

While we applaud Judge Gee’s decision, we are very concerned ICE may use this court order to attempt to tear children away from their parents again. We cannot let this happen.

This is why we are urging President Trump and our members of Congress to immediately call for families to be released together and demanding that ICE comply with the judge's order and release all families—together.

Take action and sign this letter to President Trump, Congress and ICE to make sure families are released together.

To President Trump, members of Congress, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement:

As mothers, fathers, and people who care deeply about children and families, we urge you to stop the callous separation of children and families and to demand that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) release immigrants children and their families together from ICE detention, where COVID-19 is an ever increasing threat.

We demand that ICE comply with Judge Dolly Gee's order to release all children who have been detained for more than 20 days by July 17, and that all family members and guardians of detained children be released as well with their children. Not ONE more child should be separated from their families!

ICE and DHS have separated and abused families for far too long. Because of the neglectful practices of immigration authorities, COVID-19 is running rampant in detention centers and lives have already been lost. The actions of these agencies not only endanger families but also put public health at risk as detention center staff carry the coronavirus home to their communities.

ICE's policies of family separation have gone on for far too long, and compliance with this order must not serve as a pretext to separate families that have already endured the trauma of detention. In May, ICE attempted to coerce detained families into an impossible choice: sign away their rights to their children so they could be let out of jail and be placed with a sponsor, or remain detained indefinitely in jail. ICE must not attempt to force families to choose between their child’s health and keeping their families together.

This COVID-19 crisis demands that we lean into our humanity and dignity as a nation, not abject cruelty. All families must be released together immediately, and that these family jails must be permanently shut down.

Thank you,

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