Return of Family Detention Sparks Concerns Over Child Welfare
After more than three years, the practice of detaining immigrant families and children is resuming in the United States. Two Texas centers, previously used for this purpose, are once again operational, marking a shift back to longer-term detainment under ICE, despite previous issues reported under both the Trump and Obama administrations.
While families and unaccompanied minors have remained in facilities managed by Customs and Border Protection and Health and Human Services, this new development signifies a renewed emphasis on family detention. The Biden administration had halted such practices in 2021, though the Texas facilities were never fully closed.
Amy Fischer, the director of refugee and migrant rights for Amnesty International USA, highlighted the issue during a press call. She mentioned that rights groups have identified at least 12 families detained at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center since last week. Fischer noted a significant shift in detention practices, stating, “And many of the families that are detained and have been detained, are people that have been picked up in enforcement actions within the interior of the United States.” This contrasts with previous years when most detainees had recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.
Dr. Alan Shapiro, a senior medical director, has consistently expressed concerns over the lack of medical and mental health care in these detention centers. “I cannot overstate the desperation that we heard from the parents we interviewed, they expressed that they themselves suffered from depression and anxiety, and were showing symptoms of PTSD … many would actively weep during interviews,” Shapiro explained. He recounted instances where parents were confused about immigration processes and felt powerless to assist their children. Alarmingly, detained children often exhibited signs of suicidal and self-harm behavior.
Beatriz Batres, a community organizer with La ColectiVA, shared her own traumatic experience of being detained in New Mexico a decade ago. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, she empathized with current detainees, stating, “I can’t imagine what this must be like for families facing this right now who don’t have a support network and, out of fear of seeking help, don’t seek it.” She highlighted the emotional strain on parents trying to remain composed for their children amid uncertainty.
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