Sunshine Act Meeting
| Published date | 21 December 2018 |
| Record Number | 2018-27892 |
| Court | Civil Rights Commission |
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 245 (Friday, December 21, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65625-65626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27892]
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CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meeting
AGENCY: United States Commission on Civil Rights.
ACTION: Notice of accepting written and oral public comments on family
separation.
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DATES: Friday, December 10, 2019 through Monday, February 25, 2019
(written comments); Friday, January 25, 2019, 1:30 p.m. ET (in-person
comments).
ADDRESSES: Place: National Place Building, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
11th Floor, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20245 (Entrance on F Street NW).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Walch, (202) 376-8371; TTY:
(202) 376-8116; publicaffairs@usccr.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2015, the Commission issued a report,
``With Liberty and Justice for All: The State of Civil Rights at
Immigration Detention Facilities.'' In that report, the Commission
specifically addressed the status of detained undocumented immigration
children and found substantial questions regarding the compliance of
both the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health &
Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with
the quality care standards and the terms of the Flores Settlement
Agreement for unaccompanied minor children. Further, the Commission
examined policies and standards surrounding the detention of families
at residential centers operated by DHS.
In 2018, as part of implementing its ``zero tolerance'' program for
border crossings, the federal government began forcibly separating
undocumented immigrant children from their parents. After reversing
this policy, the federal government stated it would seek legal
authority to allow indefinite detention of children and their families.
In July 2018, the Commission voted to reopen its investigation on the
conditions of immigration detention, and appointed a Subcommittee to
examine the issue further. The Commission's Subcommittee has sought
information from DHS and HHS, in the form of interrogatories and
document requests. The Commission's requests to DHS and HHS are
available on our website.
To supplement the solicited information, the Commission's
Subcommittee will hold an in-person public comment session on the
condition of immigration detention centers and status of treatment of
immigrants, including children. This in-person public comment session
will take place from 1:30-4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 25, 2019. The
Commission Subcommittee seeks to hear from members of the public,
including policy advocates, legal experts, affected persons, and other
individuals who wish to speak on the issue.
Members of the public will have up to approximately five (5)
minutes to address the Commission, with spots allotted on a first-come,
first-serve basis. There will be a limited time for the Commissioners
to engage in direct dialogue with the members of the public.
Individuals will be able to register for speaking slots, both online
and at the public comment session (in person).
The Commission will provide interpretation services in Spanish.
Individuals are also welcome to bring their own interpreters (for
Spanish or other languages). Additional time may be allotted to
individuals requiring interpretation services, as necessary.
Online Registration
On Friday, January 18, 2019, beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET, individuals
will be able to register to speak online at Eventbrite. This
registration option will remain open until all slots are filled, and no
later than 9:00 a.m. ET on Friday January, 25, 2019. An individual who
successfully registers online must be physically present for the public
comment session no later than 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 25, 2019,
or risk forfeiting the individual's speaking slot.
In Person Registration, Friday, January 25
Individuals will have the opportunity to sign up for a limited
number of speaking slots, in person, the day of the public comment
session, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 25, 2019. If the
online registration spots are not filled, or individuals who signed up
online do not appear to claim their spot, these spots will open up to
any further interested participants.
Written Comments
The Commission also welcomes written submission of material for
consideration. Please submit such information to immigration@usccr.gov
no later than February 25, 2019.
Further detailed information on registration, including the online
registration link for the in-person public comment session, will be
announced on the Commission's website (www.usccr.gov), Twitter
(www.twitter.com/USCCRgov), and
[[Page 65626]]
Facebook (www.facebook.com/USCCRgov/).
The public comment period is open to the public. The event will
also live-stream at https://www.youtube.com/user/USCCR/videos. (Please
note that streaming information is subject to change.) If attending in
person, we ask that you RSVP to publicaffairs@usccr.gov. Persons with
disabilities who need accommodation should contact Pamela Dunston at
202-376-8105 or at access@usccr.gov at least seven (7) business days
before the date of the meeting.
Dated: December 19, 2018.
Brian Walch,
Director, Communications and Public Engagement.
[FR Doc. 2018-27892 Filed 12-19-18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6335-01-P
