John — In pop-up “emergency shelters” throughout Texas, more than 1,500 children fleeing violence are facing deplorable conditions that include food poisoning, mental abuse, and medical neglect. 

Recent accounts from Fort Bliss and Pecos, two of the shelters, have reported children in shockingly cramped and filthy conditions, while being locked up for days in “what felt like a cage.”

Let’s make it clear: Children do not belong in cages.

These children are vulnerable minors that are in the custody of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and we have the responsibility to protect them as a country. Join us in calling for HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to shut down these shelters.

TELL HHS SECRETARY BECERRA TO CLOSE Fort Bliss and Pecos.

More decrepit emergency shelters are set to open in spite of numerous accounts of inadequate care. An estimated 13,500 beds are under construction at Pecos alone and expected to operate well into November if we don’t do something now. 

Keeping these “shelters” open would be a nightmare for children — these are some of the WORST conditions we’ve ever seen. This is a massive failure to live up to our promise as a nation to unify families, and we’ve got to demand that the both facilities be closed immediately.

Demand Becerra immediately shut down Fort Bliss and Pecos.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has spent the majority of his career as the Attorney General of California and in Congress advocating to expand legal protections for immigrants. Now more than ever, we need Secretary Becerra to feel our outrage and live up to his legacy by shutting down the Pecos and Fort Bliss shelters. This is urgent: hold Becerra accountable TODAY.

Fort Bliss and Pecos are two of many shelters that hold children illegally, for far too long, and in conditions that violate their human rights across the country. What’s happening is unacceptable — and it will only get worse if we don’t take action. We cannot continue US policy that detains children. It's not who we are.

Adequate alternatives to the conditions at these facilities are possible. This is due in large part because of your commitment to reunify children and families.

Thanks for all you do, 

Erin Mazursky, Organizing Director
Families Belong Together