US child migrants face indefinite detention under new ruling

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Source: Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities USA have expressed grave concern over the Trump administration's plan to allow officials to detain migrant families indefinitely while judges consider whether to grant them asylum. At present, under the 1997 Flores agreement, immigration authorities cannot usually detain families with children longer than 20 days.

Catholic Charities said in a statement today: "The announcement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement is extraordinarily troubling.

We are gravely concerned about the families, and particularly the children, who will face indeterminable amounts of time in detention and the emotional and psychological effects this will impose on them for the rest of their lives. Catholic Charities USA is prepared to review the final rule in its entirety once published on Friday, August 23rd, but any rule that systematically and indefinitely detains families is fundamentally unacceptable.

Catholic Charities agencies remain on the front lines of providing humanitarian aid, social services and legal assistance to these immigrant families. We implore the Administration and Congress to address the root causes of migration rather than focusing solely on enforcement measures. Our comments on the proposed rule can be found HERE

See also: If a Child Is Jailed and No One Is There to Hear Him Cry

and Are US child migrant detainees entitled to soap and beds?