John,

On Friday, a federal judge ordered that all children in ICE family jails be released by July 17, writing that the conditions were so dire it was as if they were “on fire.”

But there’s a problem: The judge doesn’t have jurisdiction over the adults, only the children.

The clock is ticking: ICE must release the children, but they get to decide whether to release the parents with them.

Releasing children by themselves to face a global pandemic on their own is both cruel and absurd --- and we won’t rest until every family is safe, together, and free.

We’re working with partners on the ground to demand ICE release the families together immediately, that not one child be separated from their parents, and that ICE close these family jails permanently.

The time to act is now. Tell ICE to release all the families together immediately.

The stakes are high---some of these kids are less than two years old. Covid-19 has been confirmed in at least two of these jails. You can’t cage a virus, and leaving families in jails with little access to hygiene products, masks, and disinfectants is just cruel.

Your voice matters now more than ever. Every family must be released, and no family should be separated in the process. The only way to ensure that no child is ripped from their mother’s arms on July 17 is to put massive public pressure on ICE.

This isn’t the first time the courts have ordered ICE to stop their inhumane practices. Six children and dozens of adults have died in U.S. immigration custody, and ICE has historically found ways to work around court orders by dragging their feet, and other deceptive practices.

Right now, we’re closer to freeing families than we’ve ever been, but there’s not a moment to waste.

The sooner we start pressuring ICE, the sooner we can demand families stay together. Sign the petition now to demand that all families be released together: Free the families

There’s not a moment to waste.

Let’s do this,

Paola Luisi

Families Belong Together is a campaign of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA). NDWA is the nation's leading voice for dignity and fairness for the millions of domestic workers in the United States, most of whom are women. If you would like to get in touch with Families Belong Together, click here.