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.”
Not Just Minnesota Buzz About Somali-Linked Fraud Emerges in Two Additional States
Elon Musk unleashes on Tim Walz with new nickname amid Minnesota fraud investigations
Judge halts Homeland Security plan to end Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan
Tatiana Schlossberg, JFK’s granddaughter, dies at 35 after year-and-a-half leukemia battle
NFL Star Stefon Diggs Charged with Strangulation and Assault
Bipartisan House China panel slams Beijing’s Taiwan drills as ‘deliberate escalation’
UAE announces withdrawal of all forces from Yemen after Saudi ultimatum
Russia dismisses calls for evidence as doubt mounts against alleged Ukraine attack on Putin residence
Prepper czar warns Washington has US ‘set up for annihilation’
Artists cancel New Year’s Eve shows following ‘Trump–Kennedy Center’ rebrand
Watch: Scott Jennings Refuses to Let CNN Panel Twist Minnesota’s Somali Fraud Scandal
Rob and Michele Reiner Records Abruptly Sealed After Move by LAPD
Republicans eye Iowa Senate supermajority in Tuesday special election
Australian authorities say Bondi Beach suspects with Islamic State flags not part of ‘terrorist cell’
Saudi Arabia strikes Mukalla port over ‘extremely dangerous’ actions by ally UAE
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.
Not Just Minnesota Buzz About Somali-Linked Fraud Emerges in Two Additional States
Elon Musk unleashes on Tim Walz with new nickname amid Minnesota fraud investigations
Judge halts Homeland Security plan to end Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan
Tatiana Schlossberg, JFK’s granddaughter, dies at 35 after year-and-a-half leukemia battle
NFL Star Stefon Diggs Charged with Strangulation and Assault
Bipartisan House China panel slams Beijing’s Taiwan drills as ‘deliberate escalation’
UAE announces withdrawal of all forces from Yemen after Saudi ultimatum
Russia dismisses calls for evidence as doubt mounts against alleged Ukraine attack on Putin residence
Prepper czar warns Washington has US ‘set up for annihilation’
Artists cancel New Year’s Eve shows following ‘Trump–Kennedy Center’ rebrand
Watch: Scott Jennings Refuses to Let CNN Panel Twist Minnesota’s Somali Fraud Scandal
Rob and Michele Reiner Records Abruptly Sealed After Move by LAPD
Republicans eye Iowa Senate supermajority in Tuesday special election
Australian authorities say Bondi Beach suspects with Islamic State flags not part of ‘terrorist cell’
Saudi Arabia strikes Mukalla port over ‘extremely dangerous’ actions by ally UAE
“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.
