Council Joins Coalition Letter Expressing Concern Over ICE Family Custody Programs

The Council joined over 120 organizations in a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) calling on the Biden administration to move away from using contractors like Family Endeavors and MVM Inc. to hold families in ICE custody. The letter asks the administration to replace the current custody programs with community-based post-release Border Reception and Welcome Centers, where families could voluntarily receive shelter, social services, and assistance securing transportation to their final destination. It also requests information clarifying the nature of ICE’s contracts with MVM and Endeavors, and on any other programs involving ICE’s use of hotels to detain and/or process families currently in place or under negotiation.