USCCB AND JFI URGE
PROTECTION FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN AND THE FLORES SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and its Justice for Immigrants Campaign (JFI) are urging Catholics to submit unique comments to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by November 6, 2018,
asking that the federal government continue to protect immigrant children fleeing to the U.S. It is important to send a unique message in order to show DHS and HHS the diversity of comments in opposition to the proposed rule.
On September 7, 2018, the DHS and the HHS published a proposed regulation or rule that would undermine the existing Flores Settlement Agreement of 1997 (FSA). The FSA includes important safeguards relating to the conditions, care, and release of unaccompanied and accompanied immigrant children in government custody. The proposed rule seeks to undermine critical Flores protections, including limitations on holding children in unlicensed detention facilities for prolonged periods, and greatly expands the capacity to detain immigrant families.
Thank you for helping to ensure that immigrant children are treated humanely!