For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Media Contact:
Carolina Gamero
carolina.gamero@berlinrosen.com
310-893-9038
Hispanic Federation Open Letter to Gov. DeSantis Urges Withdrawal of Executive Order That Would Displace Children from Supportive Foster Homes and Shelters
Gov. DeSantis’ executive order could displace hundreds of children and individuals from supportive homes, derailing reunification with U.S. families
NATIONAL - The Hispanic Federation along with more than 100 individuals and organizations signed onto a letter calling on Governor DeSantis to immediately withdraw his inhumane and unjust executive order that would put hundreds of children who are waiting to be reunited with their families and sponsors at risk of being displaced, impacting family reunification efforts.
If the executive order is implemented, the State would stop issuing or renewing licenses for shelters that house unaccompanied migrant children who are seeking refuge in the U.S. after having fled their country. These facilities would be prohibited from continuing to provide temporary shelter to a range of children - documented and undocumented - in Florida who are in most need of care. The new rules would impact nonprofit caregivers, child-placing agencies, and residential child-caring agencies that have traditionally provided services to both unaccompanied children as well as Florida-born children.
“The children being cared for in these foster homes and licensed shelters are fleeing violence and natural disasters in their countries of origin. They have every right to seek refuge and await placement with their U.S. families and sponsors without being used as a political tool. Instead of reuniting children with families, Governor DeSantis is keeping them apart with his xenophobic and anti-immigrant executive order. We urge the Governor to immediately withdraw this morally unconscionable executive order and allow children to obtain the care they deserve while waiting to be reunified with their families.” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of the Hispanic Federation.
According to federal data, more than 11,000 unaccompanied minors were released to sponsors between October 2020 and September 2021. The new rules would restrict the ability of groups like foster families, shelters, and faith-based organizations to house vulnerable children and drastically hinder family reunification efforts at a time when the COVID pandemic continues to pose challenges to their operations.
“Children and families are dealing with unexpected setbacks on account of COVID. The last thing we need is for lawmakers to make things any more difficult. We are talking about children here. This is a humanitarian issue not a political one. In Florida, care providers for immigrant children can care for hundreds of children at one time, and successfully resettle them in a matter of weeks with federal funding. The new rules will needlessly derail children from safely reuniting with their U.S. extended families who have deep Florida roots,” said Melissa Marantes, Co-founder and Executive Director of Orlando Center for Justice, which provides legal aid and relief to unaccompanied minors in Central Florida.
Renewing state licenses via the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a critical component in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in licensed care facilities and homes. However, the Governor’s proposed rule could destabilize the process, eliminating access for qualified federally contracted child-serving organizations to necessary licensing applications and approval. It would also displace children from safe environments and enable the forcible removal of children from supportive care facilities or stable homes.
“I came to this country because I feared for my life,” said Braulio, a young person who was placed in an ORR shelter, similar to the facilities targeted by the Governor’s executive order. “The shelter that housed me also connected me with local attorneys who provided me the legal assistance I needed and put me on a path to heal and thrive. Because of their help, now I am on my way to becoming an American Citizen. These foster homes and facilities are setting the foundation for a strong community, and supporting our human right to safe shelter.”
The Hispanic Federation has been a steadfast supporter of implementing programs and advocating for better practices at the state and federal levels that can reunite children and families. As they monitor for updates on the proposed rules on shelter licensing, the Hispanic Federation will continue providing legal assistance via its national Caminos de Esperanza initiative. To date, the Hispanic Federation has invested over $1 million to support several organizations that provide legal aid, temporary shelter, and immigration assistance to the most vulnerable immigrants, including unaccompanied children.
