News Opinons Politics

Sheila Jackson Lee Demanded ‘Internal Task Force’ To Investigate Child Deaths – Then She Was Reminded It Already Exists

Texas Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee demanded there be an “internal” DHS task force to investigate child migrant deaths, but then was informed that such an entity already exists.

“I believe there should be an internal task force set up dealing with children, dealing with children’s death,” Jackson Lee said Wednesday during a House Homeland Security hearing. She was speaking to Kevin McAleenan, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “My question to you is: Will you set up an internal in-house task force to deal with … these deaths, to find what solutions should be put in place?”

The acting DHS secretary then informed Jackson Lee that the task force she was describing already exists within the department.


“We already have internal task forces working these issues,” McAleenan responded. In response, Jackson Lee asked for the names of the individuals involved because Americans are “outraged.”


Trump takes NORAD Santa calls with children, praises ‘clean, beautiful coal’ and ‘high-IQ’ person
Activists tied to LA bombing plot indicted on terrorism charges
DOJ discovers more than 1M potential Epstein records, further delaying file release
Post-Christmas Disaster: How 26 Million Pounds of Molasses Killed or Injured 170 in the Streets of Boston in 1919
Pentagon to send 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans as violent crime surges ahead of major events
Alito rips Supreme Court majority as ‘unwise’ for blocking Trump’s National Guard plan
Greta Thunberg Arrested After Caught Supporting Literal Anti-Jewish Terrorist Org – This Is the Kid the Left Platformed as a God for Years
California farming tycoon arrested in wife’s killing
Massie questions control of DOJ X account after report alleged White House takeover
New charges against DC National Guard shooting suspect open death penalty door
Shock and Awe: Fiery Rubio Imposes Unprecedented Sanctions on European Elites Who Attempted to Censor Americans
US Set to See Largest One-Year Decline in Murders in History: Crime Expert
Democrats warn Trump green-lighting Nvidia AI chip sales could boost China’s military edge
Australian state passes tighter gun restrictions after Bondi Beach attack
Prominent Rhode Island Democrat caught on video telling officer, ‘You know who I am?’ during DUI stop
See also  The three front-runners for Trump’s Fed chair pick: What to know

The exchange follows the death of a 16-year-old Guatemalan migrant who passed away while in Border Patrol custody.

The Guatemalan boy was apprehended on May 13 for illegally crossing the U.S. border near Hidalgo, Texas. He was diagnosed with the flu and prescribed medicine Sunday after telling medical staff he didn’t feel well. However, he was found unresponsive by Monday morning while in the Weslaco Station in Texas.

Following news of the boy’s death, Customs and Border Protection immediately announced that “an independent and thorough review of the circumstances” would be conducted. The facility that housed him has since stopped taking in new migrants after a high number of detainees began reporting flu-like symptoms.

The boy’s death — the fifth in Border Patrol custody since December — has sparked renewed outrage from Democratic lawmakers.

McAleenan said that DHS is already working to beef up medical resources to better accommodate the huge influx of families and children arriving at the border, informing Jackson Lee that 55 medical professionals are “on board” in El Paso alone to care for migrants.


Trump takes NORAD Santa calls with children, praises ‘clean, beautiful coal’ and ‘high-IQ’ person
Activists tied to LA bombing plot indicted on terrorism charges
DOJ discovers more than 1M potential Epstein records, further delaying file release
Post-Christmas Disaster: How 26 Million Pounds of Molasses Killed or Injured 170 in the Streets of Boston in 1919
Pentagon to send 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans as violent crime surges ahead of major events
Alito rips Supreme Court majority as ‘unwise’ for blocking Trump’s National Guard plan
Greta Thunberg Arrested After Caught Supporting Literal Anti-Jewish Terrorist Org – This Is the Kid the Left Platformed as a God for Years
California farming tycoon arrested in wife’s killing
Massie questions control of DOJ X account after report alleged White House takeover
New charges against DC National Guard shooting suspect open death penalty door
Shock and Awe: Fiery Rubio Imposes Unprecedented Sanctions on European Elites Who Attempted to Censor Americans
US Set to See Largest One-Year Decline in Murders in History: Crime Expert
Democrats warn Trump green-lighting Nvidia AI chip sales could boost China’s military edge
Australian state passes tighter gun restrictions after Bondi Beach attack
Prominent Rhode Island Democrat caught on video telling officer, ‘You know who I am?’ during DUI stop
See also  These members of Congress will leave their jobs (mostly) voluntarily

“These tragedies are devastating to us, and they are avoidable,” the DHS secretary said during the hearing. He used his time with lawmakers to not only request additional funds to address the crisis, but also called for legislative reforms to allow immigration officials to have “additional authorities” when handling unaccompanied minors from Central America.

“Our immigration system is full and we are well beyond our capacity at every stage of the process,” he said.

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter