New Legislation Named in Memory of Child Separated from Family
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from Washington is spearheading a new bill named Orlin’s Law, which honors the memory of three-year-old Orlin Hernandez Reyes, who tragically lost his life after being separated from his mother during a federal immigration enforcement operation.
Details of the Proposed Orlin’s Law
Jayapal, who serves as the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, announced the introduction of this critical piece of legislation. According to her office, Orlin was fatally harmed after his mother, Wendy Hernandez Reyes, was deported and forced to live with a violent relative, even though she requested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also deport her son.
Mother’s Heartbreak and Advocacy
Wendy Hernandez Reyes expressed her anguish, stating that she pleaded with ICE agents not to separate her from Orlin. “I begged them not to take my son. I would go anywhere as long as he was with me. No child should die alone,” she remarked. Wendy supports Orlin’s Law in hopes that her heartbreak will prevent other parents from enduring similar tragedies.
Legal Perspective on the Incident
Sharyn Fluharty, Wendy’s attorney from Lee & Godshall Bennett, maintains that the outcome could have been avoided. She highlighted that Wendy’s desperate pleas to remain with her son were ignored, leaving Orlin vulnerable to a violent situation. Fluharty stated, “This tragedy was not inevitable; it was a foreseeable result of separating a young child from his mother.” Orlin’s Law aims to prevent unnecessary family separations in the future.
Agency Accountability and Responses
In the wake of Orlin’s death, Jayapal is demanding accountability from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Marin and ICE Acting Director David Venturella regarding the continued separation of children from their families. During this period, then-acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons alleged that Wendy abandoned her son, a statement that Jayapal’s office contends contradicts legal records and Wendy’s account.
Key Objectives of Orlin’s Law
Jayapal’s proposed legislation is designed to promote family unity and uphold parental rights, primarily by prohibiting ICE from detaining primary caregivers unless there is clear evidence of an immediate risk to public safety. It calls for the establishment of a Detained Parent Coordination Office to ensure that the rights of detained parents are protected. Furthermore, the bill would require ICE to facilitate custody decisions and create pathways for parents to stay involved in their children’s well-being.
Support from Advocacy Groups
Advocates for immigrant families have lauded the introduction of Orlin’s Law. Wendy Cervantes, director of Immigration and Immigrant Families at the Center for Law and Social Policy, emphasized that “Orrin should never have been separated from his loving mother.” She highlights the ongoing challenges families face under current immigration enforcement policies, stating that children continue to suffer as communities live in fear of deportation. Calls for Congress to pass Orlin’s Law are echoed throughout advocacy circles.
Bipartisan Congressional Support
Jayapal’s initiative has garnered the support of multiple congressional representatives, including Rep. Nanette Barragan of California and Rep. Andre Carson of Indiana, among others. These lawmakers stand unified in their push to resolve the issue of family separations, a concern that transcends party lines and resonates with many Americans.
