From Amnesty International USA (http://www.amnestyusa.org):
Activists have been near Miami, Florida, at the Homestead Facility, where thousands of migrant children are being held. What they are seeing is devastating.
© Jonathan Kirn for Getty Images
Migrant children are being held in Homestead, a U.S. Government facility, away from their families for over 100 or even 200 days. We cannot let this happen any longer: demand Congress shut Homestead down now at https://act.amnestyusa.org/page/45441/action/1!
Under the current law, migrant children are supposed to be moved from Homestead into state-licensed shelters “expeditiously” and within 20 days if possible. Our research team spoke with one child who was detained in Homestead for 8 months before being transferred to a state-licensed shelter.
The U.S. Government has deemed Homestead an emergency facility and is holding children longer than legally allowed. Not only that, but employees are not subject to the strict background checks that are required at other facilities. Witnesses were horrified to learn that there have been more than six allegations of sexual abuse at Homestead since the facility opened in 2018.
The Program Director of Homestead also informed visiting activists that girls must submit a service request form if they need sanitary pads. Take action if you agree: all girls should have access to as many sanitary pads as they need, without submitting paperwork.
This visit to Homestead underscored the true nature of this crisis. Witnesses saw for themselves what these children are going through. There is no doubt that this facility needs to be shut down.
A detention facility is not a home: it’s a punishment. Act now if you agree that these children need to be released immediately.
We will not stop advocating for these children. Please add your voice today.
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