On Tuesday, June 11, more than 100 children and youth organizations, including CWLA, released a letter to the Administration demanding they maintain educational and recreational programming for minors in Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facilities. The Trump Administration announced it had decided to suspend educational and recreational services for unaccompanied migrant children and youth in federally contracted migrant shelters. There are more than 13,000 minors being held in ORR shelters.

The letter points out,

“The Flores settlement and state licensure laws recognize that services deemed “non-essential” by ORR–including English, math, science, and reading classes and outdoor activities such as soccer and basketball–are in fact fundamental to promoting children’s healthy development and learning. Without these services, ORR-funded facilities will be a step closer to resembling adult immigration detention centers.”

The letter is addressed to Secretary of HHS Alex Azar, Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, Lynn Johnson, and the Director of ORR Jonathan Hayes. The letter can be read here.