Prelate welcomes judge's decision on detention of migrant children

July 29, 2015

A federal judge has ruled that the US government's detention of Central American children in privately-operated facilities violated commitments the US made in a 1997 legal agreement on the detention of migrant children.

"Children and their mothers were held for one to three days in rooms with 100 or more unrelated adults and children, which forced children to sleep standing up or not at all," Judge Dolly Gee ruled as she concluded that the Obama administration should have called for the release of the children and their mothers.

Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo of Seattle, the chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, welcomed the decision.

"I welcome the ruling of the court and urge the administration to comply with it expeditiously," he said. "Appealing the decision would only prolong a flawed and unjust policy of treating this vulnerable population as criminals."

"There are humane alternatives to detention which would ensure that families avail themselves of the court process but also are able to access legal and social service assistance," he added.

 

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Further information:

• USCCB Migration Chairman Applauds Court Order Requiring Administration To Release Central American Families From Detention (USCCB)
• Judge: Immigrant kids should be freed from family detention (AP)
• Judge rules U.S. government should not hold immigrant children (Reuters)