Janice Schakowsky: “I enter into the Record the story of a 17-year-old girl who fled her country with her 2-year-old daughter to escape…”

“I enter into the Record the story of a 17-year-old girl who fled her country with her 2-year-old daughter to escape constant physical and sexual abuse from the baby's father. [From the National Immigrant Justice Center] Lauren, a 17-year old, fled the country with her 2-year old daughter due to constant physical, sexual and verbal abuse from the baby's father. While in DHS custody, Lauren and her baby were held in two ``hieleras'' for a total of six days without adequate food and warmth. Lauren is a 17-year-old who came to the United States with her two-year-old daughter, Charise. Charise's father, Juan, was physically and verbally abusive. He has hit, choked, and raped Lauren and threatened to kill her and take their baby. Lauren fled to the United States with Charise to live with her parents and U.S.-citizen sister. While in DHS custody, both Lauren and her baby were held in two ``hieleras'' for about six days total. Lauren had to use her own clothing to keep Charise warm because DHS only gave her an emergency mylar blanket for Charise, despite the cold. Lauren slept on the floor of her cell with Charise in between her legs. DHS gave Charise two small burritos to eat each day, and gave Lauren a piece of bread with deli meat and an apple twice a day. When she asked for more food for her baby, who was hungry and cold, DHS told Lauren there wasn't any more food available.”