CHEVY CHASE, Maryland – The DC-MD-VA Coalition in Support of Children Fleeing Violence in Central America calls for action at a White House Vigil to END Family Detention, this Monday, August 10th at 6:30pm.
Activists participating in the protest and vigil will gather outside St. John’s Church at the corner of 16th and H St. NW, and march to the White House to express their demands for action.
Together with CARECEN-DC and other Latino community leaders and organizers, Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez will call for the Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to comply with the recent federal court order, which determined that detention of immigrant mothers and children is a violation of a longstanding court settlement.
“We urge President Obama to direct DHS to follow the law,” stated Maryland Delegate Ana Sol Gutiérrez, who is also a candidate for Maryland 8th Congressional District. “We are appalled at the Obama Administration’s reluctance to comply with the recent District Court Order and protect innocent immigrant children. DHS must release hundreds of children and families from these deplorable detention centers immediately.”
The United States District Court – Central District of California, found that migrant children were kept in “widespread deplorable conditions.” The Federal Court concluded that two detention centers in Texas that the Administration opened last summer fail to meet minimum legal requirements of a 1997 class action settlement between the US Immigration and Naturalization and unaccompanied minors.
While the Administration has delayed its response to the court order, Latino leaders believe the time has come for the DHS to comply with the prior agreement and respect the humanity of all children.
This same Coalition of community leaders, students, teachers, and activists organized weekly White House vigils last summer and fall to urge the Administration to protect the rights and well being of thousands of unaccompanied minors arriving at the border.
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