Pediatricians urge DHS to release detained immigrant children over health concerns

Thousands of pediatricians signed a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem urging the immediate release of all children held in ICE detention, arguing overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate nutrition, and insufficient sleep threaten child health and that care should follow American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. The letter emphasizes that children have unique needs, calls for transparency, and notes that 3,900 signatories from 49 states were gathered; RAICES reports 300–500 children detained in Texas daily. It also references the case of a two‑month‑old detained infant who developed bronchitis and was deported, underscoring health risks in detention.