Lowey Criticizes Trump Administration Termination Of Flores Settlement Agreement

Statement

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-Rockland/Westchester), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, made the following statement on the decision by the Trump administration to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement, a federal order that has set basic standards for the detention of migrant children since 1997.

"It is outrageous that the Trump administration will issue a new rule to withdraw from the Flores Settlement Agreement. This inhumane rule would eliminate the 20-day cap for detaining migrant children and will make it easier to expand family detention across the country.

"This is simply unacceptable. Indefinitely detaining families, whose only crime is fleeing unspeakable violence, hunger, and poverty in search of a better life, will only increase the trauma and pain migrant children will carry for the rest of their lives.

"It's my sincere hope that the new rule will be challenged and blocked in federal court immediately. Flores is not a "loophole' as the administration describes it. Flores provides essential protections for children and their families. This administration must not have greater detention authority under any circumstances.

"This attempt to abolish Flores protections and the administration's recent public charge rule are both clear examples of the Trump administration's abuse of authority to cruelly target immigrant families."

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