Latinos United for Immigration Reform

August 23 2019- NHLA Condemns Trump’s Attempt to Indefinitely Detain Immigrant Families and Children

PRESS STATEMENT                                                                                                            Contact: Sandra Hernandez

                                                                                                                                                  (213) 629-2512, ext. 129

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

August 23, 2019

 

NHLA CONDEMNS TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO INDEFINITELY DETAIN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

 

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) condemns the Trump administration’s issuance of a final rule seeking to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement that requires the federal government to not detain immigrant children for a period greater than 20 days. NHLA, a coalition of 45 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, calls on the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services to withdraw the rule in its entirety. The announcement of the new rule – which would allow the federal government to detain children alongside their parents for the pendency of their immigration case – is an attempt by the Trump Administration to indefinitely detain immigrant families. Congress must swiftly pass a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act disapproving of the rule, with a veto-proof majority, in order to invalidate the Administration’s cruel and unlawful attempt to cage innocent children indefinitely.

 “Bipartisan supermajorities in both houses of Congress should act immediately to repeal this cruel and disgusting rule; our national soul is at stake,” said Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Chair and MALDEF President and General Counsel. “There is no excuse for anyone in Congress to cave to Donald Trump, who prioritizes the profits of private prison operators and the perverse psychic desires of white nationalists, and who willingly subjects innocent children to the trauma, including substantial health risk, of being imprisoned for no legitimate reason.”

“Once again the Trump administration is displaying its racist and xenophobic position by targeting immigrant families. Detaining children, arbitrarily keeping them from their liberty, and holding them hostage to nefarious, cruel and inhuman living conditions is inadmissible," said Hector Sanchez Barba, Executive Director, LCLAA.  "Our community will not remain silent in the wake of these aggressions. We are committed to seeing justice prevail, we will mobilize, organize and resist this administration's brutal anti-immigrant agenda." 

 “Migrants journeying to the U.S., many of whom are fleeing severe gender-based violence and threats to their safety, should be able to pursue claims of asylum under international norms rather than be subjected to further-traumatization,” said Patricia Tototzintle, CEO, Casa de Esperanza. “Research has demonstrated the negative health consequences and trauma that a lengthy detention causes children and their mothers. Rather than roll back critical protections for children and waste billions of dollars expanding the private prison industry, the administration should invest in effective alternatives to detention and invest resources to help address the violence and famine that are root causes of migration.”

 “One of our nation’s most cherished values is kindness to those most vulnerable among us, particularly children. This proposed rule is overly cruel and directly contradicts that value,” said Antonio R. Flores, President and CEO, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. “The indefinite detention of children in substandard facilities within unsafe and unhealthy living conditions is un-American. The Trump administration should retract the announced rule without delay; if not, we urge the courts to afford immediate injunctive relief.”

 “The Trump Administration is unfit to watch over children and families in detention,” said José Calderón, President, Hispanic Federation. “Since taking their heartless and inhumane approach to family detention, seven children have died under the custody of ICE and CBP, and hundreds of national leaders have seen first-hand the gross human rights violations that occur in these facilities. Our national priority should not be to prolong the stay of children in detention, but rather to immediately end the gross human rights violations that occur in these facilities. We demand that our federal judges and courts prioritize the health and safety of children, over the cruel policies that Trump wants to pursue through this rule on the Flores Settlement Agreement.”

“This administration’s response to family separation is indefinite detention of children and only in an upside down world does that logic make sense,” said Juan Cartagena, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “This administration has drastically inflated prison detention by putting more and more immigrants in prison and if the indefinite detention of children is allowed then we are going to only see more families’ lives upended by the traumas of prison. Congress currently budgeted for 42k people to be held in immigrant detention and currently 55k people are held. We need to focus our efforts on reducing immigrant detention by keeping families out of the prison industrial complex, not adding more.”

 “We condemn the Trump administration’s immigration strategy to dismantle and manipulate the few regulations that loosely protect migrants,” said Gabriela Lemus, Board Member, Mi Familia Vota. “The swelling crisis of morality led by the President is spreading through policies that send the hate-filled message that human rights are not upheld here and that immigrants are not welcome in our country. The more aggressively this strategy is unfolded, the more violence and injustice it generates against children and their families. Mi Familia Vota will continue our community-based work defending immigrants from the dehumanizing and ruthless actions emanating from the White House.”

 ###

  • JAN 13, 2015 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS URGE CONGRESS TO VOTE NO ON REPEAL OF PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION January 13, 2015 Votes on Amendments to Homeland Security funding bill will be included in NHLA’s Congressional Scorecard Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives today strongly urging them to vote against the Aderholt, Blackburn, and DeSantis amendments to H.R. 240, the Fiscal Year 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, that would repeal or impede the implementation of President Obama’s administrative actions to address some of the most immediate and damaging flaws in… Read More

  • Dec 4, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION URGES CONGRESS TO VOTE AGAINST REPEAL OF PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION December 4, 2014 NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION URGES CONGRESS TO VOTE AGAINST REPEAL OF PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONSVotes on HR 5759 and similar measures will be included in NHLA Congressional Scorecard Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday strongly urging them to vote against H.R. 5759, the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act of 2014, and any similar legislation that seeks to repeal President Barack Obama's recent administrative action to provide relief from deportation to parents of U.S.… Read More

  • Dec 3, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION OPPOSES BILL TO REPEAL PRESIDENT'S ACTION ON IMMIGRATION +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION December 3, 2014 NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION OPPOSES BILL TO REPEAL PRESIDENT'S ACTION ON IMMIGRATIONBill would prevent relief to families torn apart by deportation Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, strongly opposes H.R. 5759, the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act of 2014, and any similar legislation that seeks to repeal President Barack Obama's recent administrative action to provide relief from deportation to parents of U.S. citizen and legal permanent resident children and would expand eligibility for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. H.R. 5759… Read More

  • Nov 21, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS WELCOME PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION +

    FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION November 21, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS WELCOME PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION Coalition Renews Call For Congress to Enact Immigration Reform As Soon As Possible Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, welcomed President Barack Obama's announcement, which he elaborated on in Las Vegas today, to grant affirmative relief from deportation to nearly five million undocumented immigrants, and vowed to continue to advocate for just, humane and inclusive immigration policy in the United States. "We are very pleased that the President is taking action to enable… Read More

  • Nov 20, 2014 - NATIONAL COALITION OF LATINO ORGANIZATIONS WELCOMES PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON DEPORTATION RELIEF +

    FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION November 20, 2014 NATIONAL COALITION OF LATINO ORGANIZATIONS WELCOMES PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON DEPORTATION RELIEF Washington, DC – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, welcomed President Barack Obama’s announcement of his plan to grant affirmative relief from deportation to around five million undocumented immigrants. NHLA has urged the President to take action on deportations throughout the year, lifting the voices of Latino immigrants and family members impacted by the harsh realities of deportation, and making the case for how he could use his administrative authority to provide the broadest… Read More

  • Nov 10, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL FOR CLOSURE OF FAMILY DETENTION CENTERS +

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 10, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL FOR CLOSURE OF FAMILY DETENTION CENTERS Government should instead use humane, effective, less costly community-based alternatives Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, is calling on the Obama Administration to close existing family detention centers, scrap plans for opening new ones, and implement alternatives to detention that have proven to be successful and more humane. Most of those held at detention centers are women and children fleeing violence in Central America, and many have survived abuse in their home… Read More

  • Nov 7, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON SENATE LEADER AND CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS TO PRESS PRESIDENT FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTIVE ACTION +

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON SENATE LEADER AND CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS TO PRESS PRESIDENT FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTIVE ACTION With conclusion of mid-term elections, there is no excuse for delaying action to stop deportations that are tearing apart families and communities Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, is calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and its natural allies in Congress – the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) – to weigh in strongly with President Barack Obama on the need for affirmative relief from deportation to… Read More

  • Nov 5, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO FULFILL PROMISE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY TO HALT DEPORTATIONS FOR MILLIONS +

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 5, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO FULFILL PROMISE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY TO HALT DEPORTATIONS FOR MILLIONS Administrations most recent delay already led to additional 70,000 deportations, tearing apart families and communities Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, calls on President Barack Obama not to delay in fulfilling his promise to grant affirmative relief from deportation to as broad a range of undocumented immigrants as possible. The president, who previously committed to take action before the end of the summer, then said… Read More

  • Oct 8, 2014 - HISPANIC LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO ALLOW HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DEFERRED ACTION RECIPIENTS +

    For Immediate Release October 8, 2014 HISPANIC LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO ALLOW HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DEFERRED ACTION RECIPIENTS Immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and those who benefit from expanded administrative relief should have access to the programs their taxes pay for Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, has called on President Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell to restore access to affordable health coverage and care to those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which the President established… Read More

  • Aug 1, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION URGES "NO" VOTES ON BORDER SUPPLEMENTAL AND ANTI-DREAMER BILLS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION August 1, 2014 National Hispanic Coalition Urges "No" Votes on Border Supplemental and anti-DREAMer Bills Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, released the following statement expressing its strong opposition to the revised border supplemental funding and DACA restriction bills that are scheduled to be considered by the full House tonight. As NHLA made clear to Congress in its July 16 letter and reiterated yesterday, NHLA intends to score votes on such legislation as that being considered in the House today. "The House of… Read More

  • Jul 31, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERS OPPOSE BILL TO BLOCK EXECUTIVE ACTION ON DEPORTATIONS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION July 31, 2014 National Hispanic Leaders Oppose Bill to Block Executive Action on Deportations Bill would prevent relief to families torn apart by current deportation policies Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives today expressing strong opposition to H.R. 5272, a bill that would block federal agencies from issuing any new policies that defer deportation and would prevent any future grants of work authorization to new recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood… Read More

  • Jul 30, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERS URGE "NO" VOTE ON HOUSE BORDER SUPPLEMENTAL BILL +

    National Hispanic Leaders Urge "No" Vote on House Border Supplemental Bill Rolling back due process rights for vulnerable children is not the answer to the humanitarian situation along the southern border Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, issued the following statement opposing H.R. 5230, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide supplemental funding for border security and handling the humanitarian situation of increased child migration. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 5230 this week, possibly as early as Wednesday. "The… Read More
  • 1
  • 2
› ‹