U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee's ruling against the detainment of immigrant women and children was met with acclaim by many Latino and non-Latino congressional lawmakers.

As Latin Post reported, Gee said federal authorities violated provisions that were originally placed to restrict detention of immigrant minors. With nearly 1,700 immigrant parents and children detained in six U.S. detention facilities, Gee said the federal government has until Aug. 3 to explain to her how her ruling should not require the release of immigrants within 90 days of the ruling.

In a joint statement by Democratic Reps. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and Lucille Roybal-Allard and Zoe Lofgren of California, the lawmakers said Gee's decision confirmed the U.S. government "is wrong" in detaining women and children, regardless of their immigration status, in "secure, jail-like facilities." The House Democrats recognized Gee's rejection of the Obama administration's defense that family detention has been necessary to prevent future migration.

"We wholeheartedly agree with -- and applaud -- this decision," said the joint statement by Gutierrez, Lofgren and Roybal-Allard.

The House Democrats acknowledged their recent visit to two immigrant detention facilities in Karnes and Dilley, Texas. They had spoken to incarcerated mothers and children, who in turn shared their experiences with insufficient medical care, food and abusive treatment during detention.

Gutierrez, Lofgren and Roybal-Allard added, "The Department of Homeland Security should comply with the Court's ruling by promptly releasing the families currently in custody and beginning the process of shutting down the family detention centers. It is time for the Administration to finally put an end to this appalling and shameful practice of detaining mothers and children."

From the Senate, Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey called Gee's ruling as "momentous" and reaffirms the statements by human rights and immigration rights advocates.

"This momentous ruling confirms what faith leaders, human rights experts, immigration groups and many of us in congress have been saying: Family detention policies are not only inhumane and unnecessary, they are also illegal," Menendez said in a statement.

"The government must get out of the business of locking up children and families who are fleeing violence, particularly if it is clear they do not pose a danger to the community, national security or are a flight risk," added Menendez, who urged the Obama administration to promptly implement Gee's order without delay.

The congressional lawmakers' praise comes as the discussion of immigration detention continued among House Democrats. In a forum within the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday afternoon, members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the House Judiciary Committee, Democrats spoke and heard of testimony from people with firsthand experience about immigrant detention.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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