Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and 135 House Democrats wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson urging an end to family detention.

“We are troubled by the Department of Homeland Security’s continued detention of mothers and children in secure, jail-like facilities,” the letter stated. “The only solution to this problem is to end the use of family detention.”

There have been many recent reports of lengthy detention, serious medical concerns and significant developmental delays in children.  Opposition to family detention appears to be growing with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and several newspapers (e.g., New York Times, Seattle Times) highlighting the need to end to the practice.

The Congresswoman has called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform and helped introduce a broadly supported comprehensive immigration reform bill, H.R. 15, during the last session of Congress.

The full text of the letter, spearheaded by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL,) can be found here.

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