House Condemns Atrocities Against Immigrants in Custody
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 2, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, October 2, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 1153 by a vote of 232 – 156, with 7 Republicans joining 225 Democrats. The bipartisan resolution condemns unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals in immigration detention without their full, informed consent. AILA endorsed the resolution.
AILA Senior Director of Government Relations Gregory Chen noted, “AILA welcomes the resolve shown by 232 House members whose votes today are an important step toward accountability and justice. Congresswoman Jayapal and many others acted swiftly to investigate the allegations made by the courageous women who came forward to reveal that they had been subjected involuntarily to hysterectomies—atrocities that should have been prevented and can never be allowed to happen again. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AILA lawyers and volunteers from its Immigration Justice Campaign have documented horrific detention practices and ICE’s abject failure to protect people from the virus in facilities across the country. This House resolution should be the first in a series of actions to hold the individuals, the agency and this administration accountable for the human rights abuses committed upon immigrants while they are deprived of their liberty.”