United StatesMedicine12 days ago

Children's entertainer Ms. Rachel visits Delaney Hall immigration facility: 'Why are we traumatizing kids?

Children's entertainer Ms. Rachel visited the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, N.J., where she met children separated from their parents. She expressed concern over the emotional impact on the children and questioned why they are being traumatized. Family visitation at the facility resumed recently, but detainees report ongoing issues such as lack of legal representation, medical care, and adequate food. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill was granted a limited tour of the facility after previously being denied access. The state has sued the facility's private operator over衛

Ms. Rachel, a YouTube entertainer known for her vast children’s audience, visited on Monday the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, N.J., to visit families separated by detainment.

“Met the sweetest children whose hearts are broken. They just want their parents home again…,” she wrote in a post on Instagram.

“It makes no sense that their family has been ripped apart,” she said about one of the children whose father was detained.

“Why are we traumatizing kids?” she added.

Family visitation at Delaney Hall resumed last month, but detainees and their relatives are still reporting issues with access to lawyers, medical staff and quality food.

On June 2, the North Star State sued the facility’s private operator , arguing the state health department has not been allowed to inspect the facility amid allegations of unsanitary conditions and poor treatment of detainees.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill was granted a “ closely controlled and limited tour ” of the facility on Monday after saying she was denied access to the immigration detention center for weeks.

For more than a year, the immigration facility has drawn protests against the treatment of immigrants housed there.

Last month, demonstrators clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers outside the Delaney Hall gates, leading Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D) to implement a curfew for pedestrian traffic in the vicinity.

Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) was pepper-sprayed at the protest.

A little over a year before the latest clash, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) attempted to conduct a congressional oversight visit at the site. McIver was accused of assaulting ICE officers during her visit, and a federal grand jury indicted her on three criminal charges last June. She has pleaded not guilty.

McIver is now working to close Delaney Hall amid the reported conditions.