Congress of the United States House of Representatives July 31, 2015 Secretary Jeh Johnson U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 Dear Secretary Johnson: In May of this year, 136 Members of Congress wrote to you to express serious concer regarding. the Department of Homeland Security’s detention of thousands of mothers and children in secure, jail-like facilities. The purpose of the letter was to alert you to the strong evidence that such detention is detrimental to mothers and children and is not reflective of our Nation’s values. The detained population is largely comprised of refugees fleeing violence and persecution, many of whom have serious medical and mental health needs that have been inadequately addressed in custody. We urged you to end the use of family detention. Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee issued a ruling that the Department's family detention practices constitute a material breach of a Court-approved class-wide settlement agreement. Flores v. Johnson, CV 85-4544 (C.D. Cal. July 24, 2015). Judge Gee found that the Department's decision to house children in secure facilities that are not licensed by any State agency to care for dependent children violated the 20-year-old Flores settlement agreement. The court also rejected the Department's request to amend that settlement agreement in lieu of remedying the numerous violations of the agreement. Itis long past time to end family detention. In light of this recent federal court ruling, we urge ‘you take all necessary and appropriate steps to bring the Department’s practices in line with the settlement agreement and the court ruling. Sincerely,Letter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015 Page 2 fue Grace F. 5 ip Hon. Judy Chi Hon. Naney Pelosi, bemocrae ‘Leader Hy. James E. Clybum s Hn. Joseph Crow! -K. Butterfield Hon. Ron Kind Hon. Aavier Becerra Hon, Ben Ray Tujan Hon. Linda T. Sanchez Hon, Charles B. Rangel Z _ Louise FicIntosh ighter Hon. aia Catz ¢ ‘ Hon. Eliot L. EngelLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015 Page 3 Hon. Nita M. Lowey Hon. David E. Price Mateo Hon, Maxine Waters db. : Hon. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. Jw Hon, Gene Green Adie de ne Shaton Hon, Eddie Bernice Johnson Hoh. Nydia M. He \, 2 . yggett elazqu ) . José E, Serrant “Rew L. Dibaune- Hon, Rosa L. DeLauro Vad. Hon, Jerrold Nadler Coane (Grow Hon, Corrine Brown Chex. 2 Hon. Alcee L. Hastings Hon, Carolfn B. Maloney lon, Bennie G. Thompson fon Chaka FatLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015 Page 4 Hon, Diana DeGette Hon. vy It. | Hon, Brad Sherman Hon, Adam Smith Hon. Grgory W. Mecks @ fess? Hon, Barbara Lee d Hon. Wm. Lacy Clay Hon. Steve Israel Hstlun Ce EY fon. Betty NicCollum Hon. Adam B. SchiffLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015 Page 5 Hon. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger fon. ATGFEen, Hon. Doris O. Matsui iid’ Clarke (oy Emanuel Seaver fon. Gwen Moore Hort, Albio Sires Mae rplbteve Cohen Li Uw Hon. Keith Ellison Hon. Peter Welch Hon. Xndfé Carson Hon. Donna F. EdwardsLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015 Page 6 Parsi Oe ‘Hon, Marcia L. Fudge Jpuld E ion. Gerald E. Connolly ‘Hon. Paul Tonko Lpoantie in. Joh Garamendi Hon. David N. Cicilline wh, etl, Goat. llo Mion. Madeleine Z, Bordallo Hon. Richard M. Nolan Cb, LbofZ~— Hon. Chellie Pingree Mpe Hon. Mike Quigley these H MlevOn Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton HohySander. Levin Cu, ( At— Hon, Sam Farr Hon. 4M, C. “Bobby” Scott Hon. Earl BlumenauerLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015 Page 7 on. Lor shez Hon. Michael E. Capuano | John B. Larson Hoi. Susan A. Davis Y Michal pak Hon. Michael M. Honda Aa Hon. Tim Ryan fon. Chris Van Hollen Horf Jim Cost sie! | Hon. Bill Foster th John Camey, Jr. Hon. Terri Sewell Hon. Ami Bera ? Hon. Julia Brownley Hon. Tony GardenasLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015 Page 8 Hon. Lois Frankel Hon. Tulsi Gabbard in, Jared Hu Hon, Hakeen(s/efiries Hon. Derek Kilmer aaateSs Sianio gy au Sn QZ Hon. Beto O’Rourke Hon. Scott H. Peters Hon. Hol -yrsten Sinema Me BAR ~ Ayes Hon. Mark Takano HogAuan Vargas Hn. Robin L’Kelly Hon. Donald Norcross Hon. Pete AguilarLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015 Page 9 Hon, Ruben Gallego fon, John Lewis i S Hon, Frank Pallone, Jr. Hon, Richard Neal Cano ‘ Hon . Eshoo mn. James P. McGovern Aah. nl, Hon. Robert A. Brady Hon. Mike Thompson: Speirs SOW mn Gels Hon. Frederica S. Wilson Hon. Kathy Castor Se Hon. Karen Bass 4 Hon. William R. Keating Hon. Cedric L. Richmond atu jon. Janice Hi anne BonamiciLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015, Page 10 —sfogrK DUB Wwe >-Dp. Hon. Suzi DelBene Hon. Donald M. Payfre Jr. Hon. Alan Grayson Hon. Dina Titus lyin H. mgt Cid kita Hon. Joseph P| Kennedy, II Hon. Daniel T. Kildee Hon. Ann M. Kuster Hon, Alan Lowenthal * * . Hon, Michelle Lujan Grisham PR / Hon. Mark Pocan Hon. Eric SwalwellLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015, Page 11 7) Hon! Mare A. V fosey) Ae Hon. Alma Adams 7 Dr Wali CQ mon fon, Bonnie Watson Coleman Wekbie DINgEl Hon. Debbie Dingell . James R. Langevin! Hon, Debbie Wasserman Schultz f ledbb ud Cah Hon, Bobby jon. Filemon Vela Hon, Donald = In Hon. Mark DeSaulnier Hon. Ted Liew jonra,|) an Hon. Norma AZorres Lune Hon. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan Hon, Brenda L. Lawrence Sh f Hon. Stacey () PlaskettLetter to Secretary Johnson July 31, 2015 Page 12 Lee ‘Niki Tsongas q Hon. Denny He Y 3. ae rte . Hon. Briak Fh d Chua Bute Hon. Cheri Bustos dh. David Loebsack Hon, Brad Ashf CEE Hon. Peter A. DeFazio’ Hon. Mike Doyle Hon, Pedro Pierluisi ‘Hon, Timot alz Mitch 4g f— Hon, Matt Cartwright teen Hon. John P. Sarbanes imes A. Himes Ll Pav Hon. Rick Larsen ACL Z, Hon. Ed Perlmutter Hon. Kathleen M. Rice