UNICEF USA Joins Amicus on Flores

NEW YORK (August 29, 2019) – UNICEF USA stands strongly opposed to child immigration detention anywhere in the world, and the recently proposed U.S. Government rule to remove protections for detained migrant children are deeply concerning. We thank the thousands of UNICEF USA supporters who submitted comments opposing the potentially indefinite detention of children, and are proud to join a filing to the court expressing our dismay.

As stated in the amicus brief we have joined, child immigration detention harms kids in the short- and long-term, and removing protections afforded by the Flores Settlement Agreement will only make things worse. There are humane, cost-effective alternatives to detention that UNICEF USA supports globally, including in the U.S., that should be utilized instead. Children should never be punished for simply seeking a safer and more secure future. 

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About UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For more information, contact
Erica Vogel, UNICEF USA, 212.922.2480, evogel@unicefusa.org
Gabby Arias, UNICEF USA, 917.720.1306, garias@unicefusa.org