In another shocking move designed to terrorize the immigrant community, the Trump administration announced yesterday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will detain many more pregnant women who are awaiting deportation proceedings in court. This move is cruel, inhumane and absolutely indefensible. It will unnecessarily traumatize vulnerable mothers, denying them essential health care and needlessly endangering their pregnancies. And it will potentially force many more women to give birth in detention, risking their lives and health.

We are alarmed and horrified by this action, which will force even more immigrant families to live in fear and undermine the basic human rights of women who deserve to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect.

America’s moms do not want our government to endanger the health of pregnant women, tear families apart or abuse human rights in the name of immigration enforcement. We are deeply concerned about the Trump administration’s many deplorable anti-immigrant actions, which harm our families, communities, economy and country. We urge the administration to retract this new policy, and Congress to do whatever is necessary to reverse it.

Reporters: View this as a statement in our newsroom.