Rep. Takano Statement on Trump Administration’s Decision Not to Establish a Child Detention Facility in the Inland Empire
Riverside, CA – Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released this statement following a recent announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) informing Members that the agency is no longer seeking to lease space in the Inland Empire for a detention facility to house up to 430 migrant children.
“I am relieved that the Trump Administration has abandoned its plans to lease space in the Inland Empire to detain immigrant children. Our country has a long-standing history of welcoming refugees and asylum-seekers with open arms, and in the Inland Empire, we support immigrant rights, providing safety to refugees, and respecting the dignity of all people. In our community, there is no room for hate, and there is certainly no room for yet another despicable detention center – we made that very clear by vehemently opposing these efforts from the very beginning. This is welcome news, but our fight against the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant agenda is not over. I will continue working to address the humanitarian crisis created by the Administration’s hateful policies and upholding the values that our nation was founded on.”
In August, Rep. Takano sent a letter to ORR Director Jonathan Hayes along with Reps. Aguilar (CA-31), Torres (CA-35), and Ruiz (CA-36), opposing plans to establish a child detention facility in the Inland Empire and criticizing the Administration’s maltreatment of children and families at borders. Last week, Rep. Takano also joined Reps. Aguilar, Torres, Chu (CA-27), and Napolitano (CA-32) in sending a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Matthew Albence to express opposition to the leasing of any space for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) office in any of their respective districts, and urging him to reconsider any potential plans.
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