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WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced its request that the public provide recommendations on how to permanently protect against the prior administration's practice of intentionally separating families at the border to deter others from migrating to the United States.
"It is unconscionable to separate children from their parents as a means to deter migration," said Secretary Mayorkas. "I have met with separated families and heard firsthand of the immense trauma they have suffered. We have an obligation to reunite separated families and ensure this cruel practice never happens again."
The Request for Public Input will publish in the Federal Register on Friday, December 10. Comments will be accepted for 30 days until January 10, 2022. Individuals may submit comments by following the instructions in the Federal Register notice. Public feedback will be used to help develop recommendations to President Biden on how to prevent the Federal Government from implementing in the future the cruel and inhumane practice of intentionally separating families at the border as a tool of deterrence.
President Biden issued an Executive Order in February 2021 establishing the Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families. The Task Force, in coordination with non-governmental organizations and interagency partners, has established a process to identify families separated under the prior administration's Zero-Tolerance policy—pursuant to which families were intentionally separated—and reunify them in the United States. Families reunified in the United States, or those seeking to enter the United States for the purposes of reunification, are eligible for humanitarian parole and to receive support services.
The Task Force is
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Department Seeks Appointees?to Serve on the?National Board?
WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)?today?announced?a?new Alternatives?to Detention?(ATD)?Case Management Pilot Program (CMPP),?which will provide voluntary case management and other services to?ensure that?noncitizens in removal proceedings?have access to legal information and other critical services.?Alternatives to Detention is an important tool?used by DHS?for individuals and families as they await the outcome of immigration proceedings.?This new congressionally directed pilot will supplement existing Alternatives to?Detention programs run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and will inform best practices?moving?forward.?
"We are excited to partner with nonprofit organizations and local governments on this pilot program to improve services for noncitizens in immigration proceedings," said?, who will chair the National Board for the Case Management Pilot Program.?"I encourage?organizations working with noncitizens to apply to serve on the Case Management Pilot Program National Board?and help us make this pilot program a success."?
Funds will be awarded to nonprofit organizations and local governments through a National Board, similar to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Food and Shelter Program.?Case Management Pilot Program?services?will include, among others:?mental health services;?human and sex trafficking screening;?legal orientation programs;?cultural orientation programs;?connections to social services;?and?departure planning and reintegration services?for individuals returning to their home countries.??
As part of the United States' COVID-19 mitigation efforts, DHS continues to expel the majority of single adults, and, to the extent possible, families encountered at the Southwest Border in accord
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