“Perhaps no time in our history has been more disruptive, more transformative, or more destructive to immigrant women, girls, and families than what we have seen over the past 16 months.” – Zain Lakhani
This past Tuesday, WRC’s Director of Migrant Rights and Justice, Zain Lakhani, provided testimony at a Congressional hearing hosted by the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) on “The Assault on Women by Trump’s ICE and CBP.” Called as the first expert witness, Zain spelled out the grievous harms perpetrated against women, children, and families as a result of the administration’s destructive immigration practices, including routine violations of the policies that protect vulnerable populations and protect family unity. She underlined how WRC’s painstaking research and analysis provides clear evidence of wrongdoing resulting in a new family separation crisis, as well as the mistreatment and medical neglect of people who are pregnant, postpartum, and nursing in immigration detention.
You may watch the hearing on DWC’s YouTube page. Zain’s testimony begins at approximately 12:20, and she takes questions at approximately 48:01, 1:15:19, and at 1:23:21. We have also posted a transcript of her written testimony here.
As Zain’s testimony will show, WRC is leading the fight on issues that so deeply implicate the health and safety of women and families. We will continue our engagement with Congress, the media, and the public for as long as it takes to bring the truth out of the shadows, restore oversight and accountability, and codify protections for immigrants that will end these horrific abuses.