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I CHAIR, CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

20 Lo FG CO-CHATR. CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON VIETNAM

19TH DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA

September 17, 2018

The Honorable Kirstj en M. Nielsen
Secretary of Homeland Security
Washington, DC. 20528

Acting Director Ron Vitiello
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Washington, DC.

Dear Secretary Nielsen and Acting Director Vitiello,

I am writing to express concern regarding the treatment and housing of unaccompanied alien
children in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The Traf?cking Victims
Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) requires the transfer of unaccompanied alien children
from non-contiguous countries to Health and Human Services (HHS). role is limited to
the transportation of unaccompanied alien children, but a recent news investigation revealed
allegations that an ICE contractor has been inappropriately housing children overnight in an
unlicensed and inappropriate facility.

The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) reported that a defense contractor, MVM

Inc., housed children overnight in unmarked of?ce buildings in the Phoenix area. They further
reported that neighbors in the area witnessed unaccompanied children in matching clothes
entering the facility. CIR further reports that ICE originally stated that MVM was not housing
children overnight, but was housing minors awaiting same-day transport and that MVM later
contradicted this statement and explained that some children had stayed overnight in MVM
custody. The overnight housing of unaccompanied alien children would be a violation of
Arizona child care licensing, internal company policies, and possibly city ordinances.

CIR reports that one of the facilities was an of?ce building with no private bathroom, no
showers, kitchen or yard and that a neighbor of the MVM of?ce building reported that he often
witnessed children bathing in the sinks. State and local of?cials have already called for
investigations into treatment of children.

Children should not be housed overnight in of?ce buildings that are not adapted for this purpose
and do not have appropriate facilities for hygiene and sanitation. Moreover, the TVPRA
requires that unaccompanied alien children be placed in HHS-operated shelters within 72 hours.
The role of ICE and its subcontractors should be limited to the transport of these children, and
should not involve housing children overnight or for any extended period of time.

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

The role of ICE and its subcontractors should be limited to the transport of these children, and
should not involve housing children overnight or for any extended period of time.

I ask that you or the Inspector General conduct a thorough investigation of the treatment of
unaccompanied children in MVM custody and suspend their contract pending the outcome of the

investigation. If wrongdoing is found, contract should be terminated.

I trust that you will consider this request with utmost urgency, and I look forward to reviewing
the outcome of this investigation.

Sincerely,

 

ep. 6e LofgiBh
ing Member, bco mittee Immigration and Border Security

.8. House of Repr enta ves