Washington – First Focus strongly condemns a disturbing report from Reuters News that claims the Obama Administration is preparing to launch a new wave of immigration raids targeting children and women who came to the United States seeking protection.

The report claims the Administration’s planned action will be “the largest deportation sweep targeting immigration families by the administration of President Barack Obama.”

“The systematic search and forced removal of children and families seeking safety and protection in the United States isn’t just wrong, it’s un-American,” said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus. “As bipartisan advocates for children, we recognize that children and families who are fleeing extreme violence in their home countries is first and foremost a humanitarian crisis. We call upon the Administration and the Department of Homeland Security to address this crisis in a way that upholds the best interest of each child. Raids do the exact opposite – they harm not just the children who are ripped from their beds and sent back to unspeakable danger, they also terrorize the communities and schools where children live and learn.”

###

First Focus is a bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.firstfocus.org.