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Summary: This report was jointly prepared by the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS).
[NEW YORK, 22 February 2007] - The Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) has today released a first-of-its kind study on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new family detention policy and practice. The Women’s Commission and LIRS in December visited two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities that house families in immigration proceedings, the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, TX, and the Berks Family Shelter Care Facility in Leesport, PA. Researchers found extremely poor conditions in the Hutto facility and less than ideal conditions at Berks. Both organisations were denied access to a less restrictive shelter in San Diego, Casa San Juan. "At Hutto we found prison-like conditions imposed on families with no criminal background, including asylum seekers,” said Michelle Brané, co-author of the groundbreaking report. “Conditions at Berks were less punitive, but many improvements must be made to better meet the basic needs of families, particularly children.” LIRS President Ralston H. Deffenbaugh concluded, “LIRS believes that in the rare cases where people are detained, they should be in the least restrictive setting for the least amount of time possible. We are concerned that Hutto will become a model for more family detention centers as the use of detention increases. We are advocating for alternatives to family detention and this report will include our recommendations.” ICE has recently asked the Women’s Commission to discuss with other non-governmental organisations the creation of national standards for family detention. No such standards currently exist. Further information
pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/Womens_Commission_family_detention.pdf