Through our coalition efforts we have shut down the detention camps in Tornillo and Carrizo Springs, TX, prevented Ft. Sill in Oklahoma from becoming a detention camp, and seen 1,500 youth released from the Homestead Florida camp.
The fact that the Department of Health and Human services is now saying it will eventually close these camps proves that they never had to cage these kids but rather have chosen to carry out the cruel policies of the administration. We need to keep the pressure on Homestead and ensure that the 17 year olds there are released before they turn 18 as they are being handed over to adult detention centers on their birthdays! We will close Homestead and keep on fighting to close all detention centers and get justice for migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Here’s what we need you to do:
- Contact your Member of Congress and ask them to support the Child Prison Camps Act and Families Not Facilities Act. We are gaining new opponents of child detention as the Trump administration’s detention camps become more exposed and there is ‘division in the ranks.’ Senator Inhofe of Oklahoma is one of the most conservative senators in the country and he rejected the use of Ft. Sill to cage migrant children.
- Our partners at the American Friends Service Committee have set up an action center here. Participate in an in-district visit to your representative to Defund Hate – no more money for ICE and Border Patrol. Research shows that these visits are the most effective ways of changing votes. The UUSC has put together resources to use to arrange visits from August 19-30.
- Volunteer for the vigils at Homestead – sign up here.
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