THE FOLLOWING RELEASE IS FROM CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY’S OFFICE
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) led 61 Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus and Members of Congress in a letter to demand the release and investigation of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women currently detained by Immigration and Custody Enforcement. After hearing reports of pregnant women detained in several ICE facilities in Illinois, Louisiana, and Georgia, the Members expressed their extreme concern and urgency to ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons and Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
ICE is instructed not to detain pregnant, postpartum, or nursing people under its own policy; however, there have been multiple reports of pregnant and nursing women shackled, placed in solitary confinement, or deprived of proper prenatal or lactation care.
“The health and safety of pregnant women should not be threatened as a result of the administration choosing not to adhere to Federal regulations,” the Members wrote. “That is why we urge the administration to fully comply with the existing regulations and immediately correct the violations.
“By detaining vulnerable women in appalling conditions while pregnant, you are subjecting both the pregnant individual and the unborn child to significant risks and possible death,” the Members continued. “We urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE to follow its own rules and regulations on detention of pregnant women and demand their humane treatment.”
