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
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July 31, 2015
Page 3
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July 31, 2015
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July 31, 2015
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July 31, 2015
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July 31, 2015
Page 7
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July 31, 2015
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July 31, 2015
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July 31, 2015,
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July 31, 2015,
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July 31, 2015
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