Parents who end up in facilities like the Berks County Residential Center were facing an impossible choice. Do they stay in their home country and risk violence? Or do they flee to the U.S. and risk raising a family in jail? 

The families held at Berks fled horrific violence in their countries, only to be put behind bars in the U.S. Some have been held there for over 600 days. No child should learn to walk behind bars. 

A, age 13, and his mom fled gender-based violence and gang violence in El Salvador. A stopped going to school for fear of being recruited by gang members, who had been harassing him on his way to and from school. He and his mom have been detained for 15 months.

A has been diagnosed with PTSD and a “high level of distress from this condition,” including suicidal ideation. He also has persistent asthma that requires specialized medications to prevent chronic lung changes and acute exacerbations. He is receiving no such treatment.

A writes: “Dear Santa, what I want for this Christmas is, first of all, I want to be outside with my family in Virginia after a year and two months in jail. And also an Xbox 1S and an iPhone 7. Fondly, A—.”

Today, on Christmas Eve and the first night of Hanukkah, we’d like to thank Senator Bob Casey for reaffirming his support yesterday to closing Berks and releasing these families. 

Please join us in thanking him on Facebook, Twitter, or through his website at https://www.casey.senate.gov/contact for his continued support for these kids and their moms.

At the same time, we’d like to encourage the other politicians with the power to close Berks — like PA Governor Tom Wolf, PA Secretary of Human Services Ted Dallas, and the Berks County Commissioners — to act swiftly to #ShutDownBerks and release these families. They have the legal authority to do so. The facility has been operating without a license for almost a year and it should be shut down NOW.

Suggested Facebook post: “Thank you U.S. Senator Bob Casey for your leadership and commitment to closing Berks and freeing these moms and kids. Governor Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Ted Dallas, it is within your power to issue an ERO and #ShutDownBerks today. Free these families who’ve been detained for 450+ days! https://twitter.com/SenBobCasey/status/812371237422895104”

Suggested tweet: “.@GovernorTomWolf @KevinBarnhardt @CYLeinbach This is what leadership & compassion look like. Thank you @SenBobCasey https://twitter.com/SenBobCasey/status/812371237422895104”

Finally, if you’re feeling especially generous here’s the link to our wish list: https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3080SKEAVNC2F/

Thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do to free these kids. This fight is far from over. Happy holidays!