DeLauro, Murray Urge HHS Secretary Azar to Fire Scott Lloyd
Reports indicate immigrant children are being detained for an average of eight months, up from just 45 days in Fiscal Year 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2018) – Earlier this week, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging him to immediately fire Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Director Scott Lloyd. Recent reports indicate that Lloyd's appalling policies have kept immigrant children detained for an average of eight months, substantially longer than the maximum 45-day periods of custody in Fiscal Year 2016. This news follows previous calls for his resignation given his personal interference to prevent immigrant women from accessing abortion care.
"We are extremely troubled by the recent report that Mr. Lloyd's own personal policy has kept immigrant children detained for more than eight months and we continue to be appalled by his actions to deny young women their constitutional right to have an abortion, putting their lives in danger," wrote the Members. "Director Lloyd, who is not a medical professional, has shown a complete disregard for the United States Constitution, abused his authority, and tried to force his personal beliefs on immigrant women in his custody over and over. We ask once again that you ensure Mr. Lloyd is immediately terminated."
A copy of the signed letter can be found here.