U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s policy shift to hold more pregnant women in detention is unconscionable and perverse. It is a clear sign that federal agencies under the Trump administration will stop at nothing to terrorize immigrant communities, including future generations.

Immigrant jails and prisons are notorious for their substandard medical care. It’s been well documented that forcing pregnant asylum seekers, legal permanent residents and victims of human trafficking to languish in these harsh conditions has led to miscarriages.

The change in policy, along with the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda, will further contribute to the loss of lives.

These are not family values. This is inhumane.

We should support policies like the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, which help, not harm, our communities.

- Christina Fialho, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Freedom for Immigrants