NEWS from CONGRESSWOMAN LYNN WOOLSEY

For Immediate Release: August 16, 2011
Contact: Bart Acocella/ 202-225-5161

Woolsey Introduces Bill To Protect Children
During Traumatic Immigration Raids

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Lynn Woolsey has reintroduced H.R. 2607, the Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections (HELP) Separated Children Act, which would protect children during immigration enforcement actions, ensuring that they receive proper care and still have contact with their parents who are detained.

“Children continue to suffer unnecessary distress during immigration raids because of poorly-trained officers and flawed procedures,” Rep. Woolsey said.  “The emotional damage caused by these raids is deeply troubling, and we have a moral responsibility to enforce our immigration laws in a way that still respects the rights of families and the needs of children.”

Rep. Woolsey first introduced this legislation following a series of raids during 2007 and 2008, in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested dozens of Marin County residents.  The mishandling of these raids led to widespread anxiety and trauma, with children witnessing the arrest of their parents and many terrified of going to school for fear that their parents would not be home at the end of the day. 

“Although nearly two-thirds of children with undocumented parents are U.S. citizens, ICE has not developed sound procedures for dealing with children during raids,” Rep. Woolsey said.  “My legislation would change that – providing the consistent, comprehensive, compassionate policy we need.  We should never punish children because of the actions of their parents.”

The HELP for Separated Children Act would:

• Require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adhere to basic, humanitarian procedures in all immigration enforcement actions, regardless of the size of the operation or the location;

 

• Strengthen the ability of state child welfare agencies to protect separated children in the child welfare system and whose caregivers have been removed from the country;

• Improve the training of immigration enforcement officers on procedures pertaining to humanitarian and due process protections for children and vulnerable populations;

 

• Bolster oversight of the immigration enforcement activities; and

• Ensure that parents detained by DHS continue to have contact with their children.

 

The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.  A companion bill has been offered in the Senate by Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn).