MIAMI, FL -- On Tuesday, news outlets reported that President Biden was opposed to reopening the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children, now known as the Biscayne Influx Care Facility. The facility was initially closed in 2019 during the Trump Administration, following calls from activists, legislators and other elected leaders to shut the facility down amid allegations of human rights violations, inadequate conditions and lack of independent oversight.
The ACLU of Florida responded with the following statement:
“We joined our coalition partners in urging the shutdown of the Homestead detention facility in 2019 because of its for-profit model detaining migrant children, lack of independent oversight, enormous size and failure to process individuals in a timely manner, and inadequate and deeply concerning conditions found and reported at the facility.
“In light of Homestead's unique and troubling history, we welcome the administration’s decision not to reopen Homestead. We continue to urge the administration to release children to their sponsors without necessary delay and in a manner that prioritizes their safety and welfare. We should take every measure to reform our border policies so that influx facilities are never needed again.”
