CHC Chair Denounces ICE for Endangering Pregnant Women
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March 29, 2018
New ICE Policy Increases Risk of Miscarriages & Mistreatment
Washington, D.C. - Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it would end the policy of presumption of release for all pregnant women they apprehend:
"ICE's policy change toward pregnant women is inhumane and will expose these women to potential harm and undoubtedly lead to more miscarriages and pregnancy complications. This reprehensible policy change follows a disturbing and growing trend by the Trump Administration to detain pregnant women, which has already led to alarming reports of miscarriages in immigration detention due to CBP and ICE's inadequate medical care.
"Many of these vulnerable pregnant women are escaping gang-related violence and sexual abuse. Instead of ensuring these women have access to the care and support they need, this policy will force pregnant women to be housed in unsafe, highly stressful and controversial detention facilities. Several published reports have described instances of sexual assault, abuse, harassment and even deaths in detention. No expectant mother should be housed in such facilities.
"It is critical that ICE reverse this unnecessary and cruel policy change immediately."
On October 31, 2017, In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke, co-chairs of the Women's Working Group on Immigration Reform, Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led 68 of their fellow members of Congress in expressing concern about increased detention rates of pregnant immigrant women and recent miscarriages in detention centers across the United States. See here.
On November 09, 2017, Reps. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), released the following statements after sending a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to address the treatment of pregnant women in prisons and detention facilities. See here.
On February 26, 2018, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Lloyd Doggett (TX-35) urged the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency to take immediate action to eradicate sexual assault and abuse in its detention centers. See here.
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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.