The Department of Homeland Security has been called on by House Democrats to end the family detention program. The Democrats are proposing to visit 2 centers where the illegal immigrants are being held currently in the state of Texas.

Next week some House members will travel to the detention centers, which have been criticized for being jail-like facilities.

Apart from curtailed freedom and existence in poor sanitary and health conditions concern has been expressed about the mental effects that the women and children will suffer in the state of detention; this feeling was expressed by lawmakers.

In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security last month, the House Democrats stated that the detained population was largely made up of refugees fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries.

Detaining children, it was said enhances the past trauma and can have serious, long-lasting impacts on psychological health as these children were already victims of abuse.

The department claims the program was designed to stop other immigrants from entering the country illegally. In a statement at the time, an agency spokeswoman said the well-being of detained families, particularly children, was of “paramount importance” and that detention centers currently operated in a transparent environment.