As stories continue to break about the sexual abuse of women and children in detention centers around the United States, V-Day and One Billion Rising stand in solidarity with the survivors, individuals who have already suffered so much in the current immigration crisis fueled by the Trump administration’s heartless policies that have ripped immigrant families apart, traumatizing children and parents alike.
Recent news articles include:
“Employee at Phoenix migrant children’s shelter charged with sexual abuse of 14-year-old girl” (Washington Post)
“Sexual Assault Inside ICE Detention: 2 Survivors Tell Their Stories” (New York Times)
“Immigrant Youth Shelters: “If You’re a Predator, It’s a Gold Mine”” (ProPublica)
These assaults follow an alarming trend in US detention centers (which number close to 100 now). While The New York Times reports that while ICE has reported 1,310 claims of sexual abuse against detainees between 2013 to 2017, the actual numbers are likely much higher according to experts monitoring the issue. Propublica reports: “Using state public records laws, ProPublica has obtained police reports and call logs concerning more than 70 of the approximately 100 immigrant youth shelters run by the U.S. Health and Human Services department’s Office of Refugee Resettlement. While not a comprehensive assessment of the conditions at these shelters, the records challenge the Trump administration’s assertion that the shelters are safe havens for children. The reports document hundreds of allegations of sexual offenses, fights and missing children.”
Families deserve the basic human right of safety. V-Day and One Billion Rising call for the resignation of US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristjen Nielsen. Her cruel defense of the administration’s policies and her unwillingness to take responsibility for the safety of those trapped in the system make her unworthy of this important role.
RISE UP, TAKE ACTION:
Demand that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen resigns
https://www.change.org/p/kirtsjen-nielsen-dhs-secretary-nielsen-it-s-time-for-you-to-resign-for-separating-families
ACTIVATE IN YOUR COMMUNITY:
Rise up and demand that Families Belong Together! Stage a Rising or V-Day event/action, connect and raise funds for local groups working with families in detention.
Here is a list of organizations with which you can connect:
https://www.theyoungcenter.org/
https://www.aclu.org/families-belong-together
