House Dems Warn Over Detentions

Politico

By Seung Min Kim

October 28, 2014

House Dems warn over detentions 

The Obama administration is facing increased pressure from congressional Democrats over the planned expansion of detention centers to hold undocumented immigrant mothers and children in response to this summer’s border crisis.

More than 30 House Democrats wrote to President Barack Obama on Tuesday, expressing several concerns about how immigrant mothers and children are being detained and the administration’s plans to expand the practice.

The letter follows a similar message from several top Senate Democrats – including its four leaders — earlier this month, who aired their concerns about the administration’s plans to build a new detention center in Dilley, Texas. With 2,400 beds, the Dilley facility would be the largest detention center for immigrants in the country.

“At the current rates, within one year this administration will have increased capacity to detain immigrant women and children by more than 4,000 percent,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who spearheaded Tuesday’s letter. “As the law requires, there needs to be a better assessment in place to appropriately screen and assess these women and children, many of whom are fleeing violence, torture or persecution in Central America.”

Though the border crisis that dominated Congress’s agenda this summer has largely faded from Washington’s radar, the issue is still playing out elsewhere nationwide. And like the number of deportations of undocumented immigrants under Obama, the expanded use of detention centers is another sore spot between the administration and immigration advocates.

In Tuesday’s letter, House Democrats said it is “critical” that none of the families who are currently detained be deported until officials ensure they won’t be sent back to dangerous conditions – such as persecution or torture – in their home countries.

The Democratic lawmakers added that they are “concerned that the rapid expansion of family detention is being done in a manner that fails to meet the unique needs of parents and children.”

“In an effort to send a strong message of deterrence to future migrants, the rapid expansion of family detention poses a danger to women and children fleeing persecution and torture in their home countries,” the House Democrats wrote.

The Department of Homeland Security currently operates three immigrant detention centers for families – in Artesia, N.M.; Karnes City, Texas; and Berks County, Pa. The fourth facility in Dilley is set to open in the coming weeks.

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