Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement calling for the resignation of Scott Lloyd, head of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR):

“D.C. and California federal court documents as well as extensive media reporting demonstrate that Scott Lloyd, Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, has used his official office to block young women in government custody from accessing legally available reproductive health care—even when they pay out of their own pockets.

“Documents and reporting show that Lloyd also sought to deny young women access to their lawyers. He has implemented policies that directly violate young women’s medical privacy rights, putting these women at real risk of physical danger. In addition, he has spent his time as a government official personally pressuring young women about their medical options, even though he has no medical expertise or training.

“In light of all this, Scott Lloyd should resign.

“The head of the Office of Refugee Resettlement is charged with protecting the well-being of the most vulnerable people—those who have been tortured, children who arrive in the country alone and without family and individuals fleeing persecution. It is imperative that the individual leading this office is committed to this mission and not his own personal, political agenda.

“What’s more, young women don’t lose their right to make their own health care decisions when they are in government custody. We have an obligation to treat these women with the dignity and respect they deserve and we can’t meet that obligation with Scott Lloyd at the helm of ORR.”

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