From the #ShutDownBerks Coalition (https://www.facebook.com/ShutDownBerksCoalition/):
The Shut Down Berks Coalition is heartened that on March 25th, 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services issued an Emergency Removal Order for the remaining children residing in the Glen Mills schools. No child should ever be abused and it is especially sickening when those who are entrusted to care for our children are the perpetrators of abuse. The decision to issue this ERO was the correct one.
In this moment of moral victory for child protection, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services should also issue an Emergency Removal Order for the Berks County Detention Center, Pennsylvania’s immigrant family prison. It is plain and simple – incarcerating families is immoral, traumatizing, and it is also unlawful. It is well known that the trauma associated with family detention has long-term effects on the mental and physical health of children and adults. This is inhumane, and it is not necessary. The Department of Homeland Security’s own task force on family detention has acknowledged that.
As Berks County continues to appeal the revocation of the prison’s license the state of Pennsylvania still has the power to close this prison by issuing an Emergency Removal Order; this is not under dispute. In fact, state statute requires the Department of Human Services to remove individuals from a residential facility when there is evidence of abuse or neglect. This is why Glenn Mills is being shut down. The county should not be allowed to continue to break state law while the license appeal process drags on. And by not taking action to end family incarceration in Pennsylvania, the state guarantees that more families will continue to be abused and traumatized in this prison.
Governor Wolf and the Department of Human Services have taken strong measures to stop the abuse of the children housed at Glen Mills school as they should. They have the opportunity now to show the same leadership in Berks County as they did at Glen Mills. The Governor, Lt. Governor Fetterman and Secretary Miller should do the right thing, and stop the abuse at the prison by directing the Department of Human Services to issue an Emergency Removal Order and convert it into a drug treatment facility.
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