House Dems Pressure ICE to Release Families

WRC’s Michelle Brané discusses immigration bills with the National Journal.

House Democrats are ramping up the pressure on immigration officials to release people from detention facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including families with children.

Should Congress pass the provisions included in the Democratic-backed HEROES Act, ICE would be required to prioritize the release of individuals who are not subject to mandatory detention. Under current law, many immigrants—including those convicted of violent crimes and those seeking asylum—are subject to mandatory detention.

“I think it’s the strongest language we’ve seen out of Congress in a long time,” said Michelle Brané, senior director of the Migrant Rights and Justice Program at the Women’s Refugee Commission.