Government Accountability Project Client to Brief Congressional Delegation And Press As Part Of Congressional Delegation Trip To The Karnes and Dilley Detention Facilities
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) whistleblower and Government Accountability Project client Dr. Scott Allen will join a congressional delegation to the Karnes and Dilley child detention centers today at the invitation of Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Dr. Allen will be briefing the congressional leaders as well as the press on his findings following ten inspections of detention facilities over the last four years.
Dr. Allen and fellow DHS whistleblower Dr. Pamela McPherson previously reported their concerns regarding child and family detention in a July 17 letter to the Senate Whistleblowing Caucus and were recently featured on CBS’ “60 Minutes” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
The delegation, which includes Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sen. Tina Smith  (D-MN), and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA-27), will visit the Karnes and Dilley detention facilities in Texas. During their investigations, Drs. Allen and McPherson became aware of multiple threats to the health and safety of children, which were detailed in their initial disclosure to the Senate Whistleblowing Caucus.
Following the congressional tour of the facility, Dr. Allen will speak to the press and read a statement from him and Dr. McPherson.
For logistical information, please contact Martina McLennan at [email protected] and Ray Zaccaro at [email protected] in Senator Merkley’s office.
Drs. Allen and McPherson said in a statement,
“The proposed expansion and prolongment of detention poses an increased, and foreseeable, risk of harm to children, and it is our ethical duty as physicians, and our moral responsibility as people, to speak out. Dr. McPherson and I thank the congressional leaders for listening to Americans who say NO to the detention of families and children and for shining a light on the importance of ending the harmful practice of detaining families and children.”
Dana Gold, legal counsel to the doctors and Director of Government Accountability Project’s Education Program stated,
“Drs. Allen and McPherson’s brave choice to blow the whistle on the Trump administration’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy illustrates the centrality of whistleblowers to ensuring government accountability. No child deserves to be confined, separated from their family, or to have their health and safety threatened. We hope that this delegation will spur further investigation and motivate congressional action in 2019 to end the indefensible practice of family detention.”
Contact: Andrew Harman, Communications Director
Phone: (202) 457-0034 ext. 156
Email: [email protected]
Government Accountability Project
Government Accountability Project is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, Government Accountability Project’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability. Founded in 1977, Government Accountability Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.
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