Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary bishop of Seattle and chairman of the U.S. bishops' conference Committee on Migration, has issued a statement decrying the opening of a 2,400-bed detention center in Dilley, Texas, that is set to house migrants fleeing violence and economic devastation in Central America.
Elizondo called the migrants' treatment in detention centers "inhumane."
The new detention center will house detainees from another detention center, this one located in Artesia, N.M.
The Artesia center became infamous for its poor treatment of detainees and questionable application of asylum rights. It is set to close at month's end.
In a press release Monday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced the opening of the new detention center:
"Here in Dilley, Texas I am announcing the opening of a new detention center here. This facility will begin operating in a few days. It is intended for adults who cross the border illegally with their children. It replaces the temporary facility we set up in Artesia, New Mexico for the same purpose, which is closing. This new facility is much larger. The Artesia facility could hold up to about 700 people; this one will have the capacity to hold up to 2,400 people."
"It is inhumane to house young mothers with children in restrictive detention facilities, as if they are criminals," Elizondo said in a press release put out Tuesday by the USCCB. "Already traumatized from their journey, these families are very vulnerable and need care and support, not further emotional and psychological harm."
"Many of these families are fleeing persecution and should be afforded the full benefit of domestic and international law," the bishop said. "As we saw in the case of Artesia, detention denies mothers and children with valid legal claims meaningful access to due process, including legal representation."
Elizondo suggested that the Obama administration find less oppressive alternatives to detention facilities.
"Past community-based programs have shown that vulnerable groups such as families can be placed in a community setting and still appear at their immigration hearings, provided they are given the proper support," he said. "The government should explore this humane alternative and not cause further harm to these families, particularly children."
[Vinnie Rotondaro is NCR national correspondent. His email address is vrotondaro@ncronline.org.]
