Commission to Investigate Detention of Children

"The U.S. prides itself on family values. Shutting up families in prison is in direct contradiction of these values." - Michelle Brane, Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), a body of the Organization of American States, said last week that it plans to investigate allegations of mistreatment of people held in U.S. immigration detention centers, the Miami Herald reports. The plan follows the first hearing held by the Commission on the practice of immigration detention. >To watch the testimony click here.

Commission Asks to Tour Centers Detaining Children

Commission Chairman Florentine Melendez said that the human rights body asked the State Department for permission to tour facilities detaining children. "Perhaps no country in the world devotes more resources to the rights of children than the US, but I've been asking myself whether I was facing two countries," said Commission member Paul Sergio Pinheiro. "These are very contrasting pictures," he said.

Michelle Brane Director of the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children's detention and asylum program, who testified before the Commission, said, "the U.S. prides itself on family values. Shutting up families in prison is in direct contradiction of these values."

"Recent tragic deaths in detention have spurred Congress and the international community to investigate the treatment of detainees within the U.S.," said Kerri Sherlock Talbot, director of policy and planing for the Rights Working Group, who also testified the at hearing. Earlier this month, the House Immigration Subcommittee held a hearing on medical treatment in U.S. detention centers. Sherlock called on the international community and the public to force Congress and the administration to require that people in detention are treated humanely.

Read Testimonies from Congressional Hearing on Detention

Edwidge Danticat Niece of Reverend Joseph Dantica, deceased detainee
June Everett Sister of Sandra Kenley, deceased detainee
Francisco Castaneda Former Detainee

Learn more: Visit http://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/ to learn how you can take action.