"THE CRUELTY IS THE POINT," DURBIN SAYS IN OPENING STATEMENT AT HIS SPOTLIGHT FORUM ON ABUSIVE CONDITIONS IN ICE FACILITIES

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Dick Durbin issued the following press release:

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today hosted a spotlight forum entitled "The Cruelty Is the Point: The Deadly Legacy of ICE Detention Under President Trump." Today's forum, which featured testimony from Ricardo Hernandez-Navarrete, the Chicago student who was detained for two months and experienced harsh conditions in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, examined how the Trump Administration's cruel immigration policies have led to a 22-year high for the rate of deaths in federal detention. Last year, under the Trump Administration's leadership, more than 30 people died ...