Civic Register
| 4.9.19
Should ICE Continue Detaining Pregnant Women?
Do you support ICE detaining pregnant unauthorized immigrants?
What’s the story?
- A group of Democratic senators are demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) restore an Obama-era rule for presumptive release for all pregnant women.
"In the absence of compelling evidence that the detention of a pregnant woman is necessary because she is a threat to herself or others, or is a threat to public safety or national security, the civil detention of an expectant mother for potential immigration offenses is never justified," said the letter, which was sent to ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Monday.
- The 16 Democratic senators who authored the letter cite a stillborn birth in a Texas immigration center in February. They also reference an Arizona Republic article that reported on 28 women who may have had miscarriages over the past two years while in ICE custody.
- According to ICE records, a total of 2,701 pregnant women were booked into custody between Dec. 14, 2017 and March 2, 2019.
What are people saying?
Against presumptive release
- Last March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that "ended the presumption of release for all pregnant detainees.”
- ICE cites the above quote on its website, adding:
“As with all detainees, absent the requirements of mandatory detention, ICE will complete a case-by-case custody determination taking any special factors into account. ICE detention facilities will continue to provide onsite prenatal care and education, as well as remote access to specialists for pregnant women who remain in custody. In addition, ICE ensures access to comprehensive counseling and assistance, postpartum follow up, and in certain cases, abortion services.”
- CBP did not respond to various outlets’ request for comment.
Favoring presumptive release
- "Stories of pregnant women being mistreated or having their medical needs neglected while in [Department of Homeland Security] custody are unconscionable," Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), the lead signature on the letter, said in a statement to NBC News. "These women need a safe environment and regular access to medical care, which ICE and CBP have failed to provide.”
- The letter notes “multiple reports of pregnant women having been denied access to medical care or receiving inadequate medical care,” including “being ignored during their miscarriages by agents who refused to respond to the medical emergencies.”
What do you think?
Do you support efforts to restore presumptive release for all pregnant women? Or do you support detaining them? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.
—Josh Herman
(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / vichinterlang)
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