1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned constituent to express deep alarm about the ongoing human rights abuses at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center. On February 21, a baby girl was born while her mother was detained at this facility. This alone should prompt urgent review. It is unconscionable that a newborn infant would begin her life inside an immigration detention center — especially one where both measles and RSV have been confirmed. Dilley is not a safe place for children. It is certainly not a safe place for a newborn. We have already seen grave consequences from inadequate medical transparency and care. A two-month-old baby, Juan Nicholas, was reportedly diagnosed with RSV only after deportation to the U.S.–Mexico border, raising serious concerns about whether officials were truthful about his condition prior to removal. This pattern cannot continue. The mother who gave birth and her infant daughter must be released into the United States immediately. No child should be exposed to preventable infectious disease outbreaks while in government custody under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement supervision. The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for the closure of immigration detention centers for children because detention is fundamentally harmful to child health and development. Medical experts have made their position clear. Our leaders should do the same. We urge immediate action to release this mother and newborn and to prioritize the health, safety, and dignity of all children. Children do not belong in detention.