TUCSON, AZ— Yesterday, the Arizona State Department of Health Services moved to revoke the licenses of Southwest Key facilities across the state after the organization failed to prove it had conducted background checks on its employees. In response, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement: 

“I’m disappointed to hear Southwest Key facilities failed to safeguard the health and well-being of immigrant children. Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse should never be tolerated, and situations like these further illustrate why children do not belong in detention. After my visit to the Southwest Key facility in Tucson and the subsequent allegations of abuse, I have repeatedly called for ending the detention of children and their parents. We must finally put a stop to this horrific practice and ensure that no changes are made to the Flores Settlement by Trump and his administration that could keep families in detention for prolonged periods of time. We must instead pursue alternatives to detention such as the Family Case Management Program, which the Trump Administration canceled.” 

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