For Immediate Release: Sept. 10, 2018
Contact: Erin Williams – ewilliams@faithinaction.org
202-748-0699
WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration announced a new policy that would indefinitely detain families and children as they await a decision on being granted asylum. Richard Morales, policy and program director of Faith In Action’s immigration campaign LA RED, issued this response:
“The Trump administration’s lack of human decency and moral code is astounding, though expected. Not only does Trump want to continue detaining children, but he is also creating a case to give even more money to the overinflated budget of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). By pushing for indefinite detainment, the president is creating more demand for detention beds and funding to operate these detestable facilities.
“The Department of Homeland Security was quoted as saying ‘…legal loopholes significantly hinder the Department’s ability to appropriately detain and promptly remove family units.’ Let’s be clear: there is no ‘appropriate’ way to detain anyone, especially children. This year alone, undocumented families have been separated from their children, confined in deplorable conditions, and subjected to heinous treatment at the hands of ICE officials–all in the name of being ‘appropriate.’
“Additionally, it could be months before some of these families receive a decision on their asylum cases. This is a trying, stressful process that our government forces upon our brothers and sisters. The practices of this rogue administration cannot stand, and we are demanding that this proposal be rejected, and instead pass legislation to release children and families as quickly as possible. The detention system is an atrocity, and Trump’s proposal further strips away the humanity of children and families.”
###
Faith in Action, formerly known as PICO National Network, is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. The nonpartisan organization works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 46 local and state federations. For more information visit www.faithinaction.org.
