ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona Democrats call for Gov. Ducey to check wellness of detained kids

Jun 21, 2018, 3:00 PM

Akemi Vargas, 8, cries as she talks about being separated from her father during an immigration fam...

Akemi Vargas, 8, cries as she talks about being separated from her father during an immigration family separation protest in front of the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. District Court building, Monday, June 18, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX — Democratic lawmakers called on Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and other officials to ensure that children detained in the state after being separated from their parents at the border are safe.

A letter signed by three leaders of the Arizona House Democratic Caucus on Thursday said they have “been stonewalled at every turn” in their efforts access state facilities to check up on kids removed from their families who tried to enter the country illegally.

Democratic Leader Rebecca Rios, Assistant Democratic Leader Randall Friese and Democratic Whip Charlene Fernandez asked state officials to ensure the “safety and well-being and investigate any instances of abuse and neglect” of children “who have no doubt been traumatized.”

The letter, which was addressed to Ducey, Department of Heath Director Cara Christ and Department of Child Safety Director Gregory McKay, reads as follows:

As you are aware, The Trump Administration has since May 7 engaged in a policy of separating families detained at the border and incarcerating children in “tent cities” and other facilities across the Southwest, including in Arizona. This unjust policy calls for the criminal prosecution of even first-time border crossers and asylum seekers fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries.

We have serious concerns about the health and safety of these children, who have no doubt been traumatized — perhaps for a lifetime — after being intentionally and forcibly removed from their parents. This policy is child abuse. Our caucus has made repeated efforts to gain access to Arizona facilities holding these children to ensure they are safe, but we have been stonewalled at every turn.

As Governor, you have the responsibility and jurisdiction through The Department of Health Services and Department of Child Safety to help these children being held in our state. We respectfully request that the State and directors of DHS/DCS conduct wellness checks on every child that’s being held in the Office of Refugee Resettlement facilities in Arizona to ensure their safety and well-being and investigate any instances of abuse and neglect.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end the policy of separating families detained at the border.

The administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy of criminally prosecuting illegal border-crossers, which has led to the removal of some 2,300 children from their parents since May, remains.

Families will now be detained together, but the task remains of reuniting parents and kids who already have been separated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Arizona Democrats call for Gov. Ducey to check wellness of detained kids