Wasserman Schultz on Announcement of All Youth Being Moved From Homestead

Washington, August 3, 2019
"I will seek a full accounting of where these hundreds of children who were reportedly relocated from the Homestead detention center ended up."

Today Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) released the following statement in response to the announcement that all unaccompanied youth have been moved out of the Homestead facility:

"I will seek a full accounting of where these hundreds of children who were reportedly relocated from the Homestead detention center ended up. While this is being portrayed as a safety measure, given this Administration’s abysmal and cruel track record, I fear it’s an attempt to skirt scrutiny and accountability. These young people must be connected with eligible sponsors. They must not be reshuffled through this Administration’s brutish migrant detention system. It is also disturbing that the facility was suddenly able to relocate more than 3,000 children in under a month. Last year, during a very active hurricane season, there were no major movements of children and suddenly, they are all moved supposedly because of a tropical depression? For months, HHS complained of backlogs, yet it has now relocated all children at Homestead without full explanation. HHS must be more transparent, and I will continue to demand answers about the fates of these children."