Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and a growing number of other House Democrats, alongside former detainees and legal advocates, will call on the Department of Homeland Security to end its immigrant family detention program in a press conference Thursday, May 21, at 10:00 AM ET.

The lawmakers, led by Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren  and Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez, will voice concerns over inhumane conditions and the harmful effects of incarceration on the psychological health and well-being of children and families as they await the adjudication of their cases in immigration court.

The family detention program, administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has come under increasing criticism following the recent and rapid increase in detention – particularly for the purpose of detaining vulnerable asylum seekers, families and children.  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the New York Times Editorial Board, and Members of Congress have called on the Administration to end its policy of incarcerating children and women, and instead discharge detainees on supervised or monitored release pending the disposition of their case.