Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Applauds House Passage of Resolution 1153 Condemning Forced Sterilization of Women in Immigration and Customs Enforcement Custody
For Immediate Release: October 2, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
Washington, DC — Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a vote of 232-156 House Resolution 1153,which condemns the heinous acts of forced sterilization of immigrant women in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. This resolution was introduced by Representatives Jayapal (D-WA), Kuster (D-NH), Jackson Lee (D-TX), Garcia (D-IL) and Frankel (D-FL) in response to whistleblower reports of forced sterilizations at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) in Ocilla, GA.
“Reproductive oppression and forced sterilization is part of a long history of racist violence in this country. White supremacy has always depended on dehumanization and control over the bodies of women of color,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “These utterly unconscionable and barbaric acts against immigrant women are designed to silence us, but we know we must call out this violent attempt to control people, especially immigrant women and women of color. We are grateful to see leadership from Democrats in the House seeking to put an end to these atrocities. The silence from Republican leadership in the House and the fact that the overwhelming majority of Republicans voted no, while unsurprising, speaks volumes.”
NARAL Pro-Choice America is committed to joining with our partners and allies in the reproductive justice, racial justice, and immigrant rights movements to call out these unspeakable acts of violence and attempts to control marginalized communities, and women of color in particular. Reproductive oppression is a weapon used to prop up authoritarianism and white supremacy—and we know that there can be no reproductive freedom without freedom from this tyranny. We stand by our partners in their calls to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), shut down Irwin Detention Center, ensure real accountability and dismantle this cruel and racist system. NARAL will factor the votes on this resolution into its scores for Representatives in the annual NARAL Congressional Record on Choice.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters have fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom—including access to abortion, contraception, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its more than 2.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 7 in 10 Americans who believe every person should have the freedom to make the best decision for themselves about if, when, and how to raise a family.