Only one-half of one percent of these people fearing to return to their homeland fled to the United States to ask for asylum. Even asylum-seekers with family in the United States who are ready and waiting to care for them are often not released. This means months, and if the case is appealed, years, behind bars, separated from family, all at taxpayers' expense. Because of the smaller numbers, the INS has less space reserved for women in their own facilities, and is more likely to place women detainees in local jails mixed with people serving criminal sentences. Over 200 children at any given time are in INS custody for periods longer than 72 hours.
Few facilities are available to hold families together during immigration proceedings.
There is a plan to begin a family unit shelter in Ft. Reposted courtesy of the Washington Alliance for Immigrant and Refugee Justice.