HISPANIC CAUCUS ON RULING ORDERING RELEASE OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AT DETENTION CENTERS

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez released the following statement on the ruling by U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee that family detention centers are in violation of the 1997 Flores vs. Meese settlement requiring immigrant children to be housed in the least restrictive environment.

"The federal ruling by U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee confirms what we've known for a long time now: family detention centers should be closed. It is unconscionable that we are imprisoning mothers and children who pose no risk to our national security. House Democrats and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have been calling for the closure of these centers and we applaud Judge Dolly Gee's ruling. We hope this ruling will move us closer to finally stopping this inhumane treatment of immigrant families."

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