U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) and her Democratic colleagues on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee have called upon committee chair, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (OR2), to immediately hold a hearing to address the growing number of children forcibly separated from their parents and families and placed into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The Energy and Commerce Committee serves as the oversight committee for HHS.

“These children are at serious risk of suffering harm and severe trauma, and it is of utmost importance that we hear from all parties involved in their care to ensure that HHS is taking every step necessary to protect their safety and wellbeing,” the members wrote. The letter went on to say, “The President’s policy is inhumane and should be reversed as soon as possible. In the meantime, we must ensure that ORR is properly caring for these children until they can be reunited with their parents.”

You can read the letter here.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Castor released a video statement denouncing this policy by the Trump Administration as abusive.

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