FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2019
CONTACT: Sara Spain, [email protected], 202.864.0267

BEND THE ARC: MIGRANT CHILD DEATHS HORRIFIC MEASUREMENT OF CRUELTY TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS, SYSTEMIC CHANGE NEEDED

New York – Following revelations of a sixth migrant child who died in U.S. custody  in the last eight months, Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, released the following statement:

“We are heartbroken to learn of the death of a sixth migrant child in U.S. custody over the last eight months, the latest horrific measurement of how cruel our country’s immigration policies and agencies have become, and we are outraged that it took months for this death to be reported. We painfully recall the names of these young victims: Jakelin Caal Maquin, Felipe Gomez Alonso, Juan de León Gutiérrez, Wilmer Josué Ramírez Vásquez, Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, all children lost at the cruel and negligent hands of our immigration agencies.

“In the words of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: ‘In a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.’ We don’t yet know the name of this newly reported 10-year-old girl, but we do know that these unspeakably tragic deaths are occurring because of ICE and CBP policies. It is our sacred responsibility to continue to demand action and real, systemic change before any more children suffer the same fate. Those leading our immigration agencies, including the individuals in charge of detention facilities where these deaths are occurring, must  be held accountable. Those spreading fear and scapegoating immigrants in order to achieve their white nationalist agenda, no matter the damage, must be held accountable. We call on Congress to defund these agencies to prevent them from engaging in further cruelty and violence. With tears in our eyes but resolve in our hearts, we renew our commitment to ensuring that this horrible pattern of death comes to an end once and for all.”

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Bend the Arc: Jewish Action is uniting a movement of tens of thousands of progressive Jews across the country who are fighting for justice and equality for all. We are the only national Jewish organization focused exclusively on social change in the U.S.