Planned Parenthood Condemns Trump Administration’s Move to Detain Children & Families Indefinitely

New York, NY —  Today, the Trump administration released a “family detention” rule that would allow migrant families and children to be held indefinitely. This rule would upend an existing long-held settlement agreement, known as the Flores Settlement Agreement, that has established basic protections for children that enter the U.S. and are placed in government custody. This includes the requirement that children be held in custody no longer than 20 days.

This “family detention” rule would also allow for the creation of a federal licensing system that expands DHS and HHS authority to jail migrant families in poor and inhumane conditions and dismantle established legal protections for undocumented children. 

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, Acting President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

The Trump administration continues to demonstrate that it will stop at nothing to advance its racist, anti-immigrant agenda. Detaining children indefinitely is not the solution to the crisis President Trump created when children were being ripped from their parents’ arms at the border — it is a jail sentence. Yes, children belong with their families, but they also belong in safe and healthy environments, not in cages.

“This is an egregious attack on immigrant communities, their health, well-being, and their ability to live their lives with dignity. No one’s health should be compromised because of their immigration status, and no one should be forced to live in dangerous conditions without access to adequate care and housing — period. Planned Parenthood will not sit by silently while this administration continues to strip immigrants of their basic health, rights, and freedoms. We stand with our partners who are leading the fight against this rule and other racist, xenophobic attacks against immigrant communities.

The types of detention practices permitted under the final rule undermines the basic rights of immigrant families and children and have been shown to have damaging and long-lasting effects on the health of children — a fact that has been confirmed by a number of experts in the field of children’s health.

As a leading provider of reproductive health care that proudly provides care to everyone regardless of immigration status, Planned Parenthood stands with immigrants and will continue to be a vocal advocate alongside our immigration partners in the fight to end these atrocities. 

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.