John,

I’ll get right to the point: Asylum-seekers in ICE detention centers in Texas and across the Southern United States are living in dire conditions--and it’s not just because of the cold weather.

According to reports, ICE detention guards are retaliating against families and children who dare mention the freezing temperatures, unhygienic conditions, or lack of water. When detainees voice concerns about the cold, ICE agents have reportedly blasted fans or thrown blankets in the trash.

What’s happening in Texas is a crisis for so many people, and what’s happening in ICE detention centers is just outright cruel. The truth is, the system was designed this way, which is why I’m calling on you to take action now.

Add your name to our pledge to double down on our efforts to END this cruelty and advocate for a more dignified and humane system for families and children.

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Ted Cruz fleeing Texas with his family during a state-wide emergency is a mockery of the thousands of families and children seeking safety who’ve been separated and left to suffer in ICE detention centers.

Now is the time to turn our attention away from politicians and policies that don’t serve us, and towards a future where families are reunited and safe.

Weathering a state-wide emergency during a global pandemic is hard enough. Now imagine being a parent separated from your child as you’re detained in an ICE facility--without heat or water.

It’s time to put an end to the immigration system that prioritizes profits over people, separates children from parents, and leaves asylum-seekers out to freeze in conditions more dangerous than the ones they risked their lives to flee from.

Add your name to our pledge to renew your commitment to reuniting families and advocate for a more dignified and humane immigration system.

If the last week has reminded us of anything, it’s that change comes from within. It’s going to take every one of us to reunite families, end ICE’s legacy of cruelty, and build a nation where safety is more than an empty promise.

Thanks for all that you do,

Paola Luisi, Director
Families Belong Together