FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 21, 2019

CONTACT: Sara Spain, [email protected], 202.864.0267

BEND THE ARC: TRUMP’S PLAN TO ALLOW INDEFINITE DETENTION OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ‘RACIST AND INHUMANE’

Washington, D.C.– Following the Trump administration’s announcement of a new rule that would allow detention centers to indefinitely detain migrant families crossing the border, superseding the Flores Agreement, which limits how long migrant children can be detained and standardizes the level of care they must receive, Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, released the following statement:

“The Trump Administration’s new regulation, which allows immigrant families to be detained indefinitely, is another racist and inhumane extension of a constant, ongoing assault on immigrants designed to intimidate, abuse, and ultimately deport them. President Trump’s bigoted policies and rhetoric consistently put immigrants in harm’s way to advance his dangerous white nationalist agenda.

“This announcement comes on the heels of news that the Trump Administration won’t provide the flu vaccine to people held in detention, despite the flu-related deaths of three children in the last year. And it follows a new “Public Charge” rule from the administration that would force immigrants to choose between going without food, medical care and other basic needs or increasing their risk of being deported. These cruel and shameful efforts illustrate clearly that Trump and his allies will go to any lengths to punish immigrants. Jewish Americans recognize that this administration’s white nationalist worldview continues to put the safety of immigrant communities at risk and incites further violence against all of our communities.

“We are committed to continuing the fight to ensure that immigrant families are treated with dignity and to defeat Trump’s white nationalist agenda. We will work with our immigrant allies to stop the agencies enacting this cruel agenda by calling on Congress to cut their funding and hold them accountable.”