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.”
Flashback: How James Woods Encountered, Then Reported Multiple 9/11 Hijackers to the FBI
Trump Rejects Saudi Crown Prince’s Pleas for New U.S. Strikes in Middle East: Report
Trump admin’s fraud crackdown targets foreigners accused of infiltrating U.S. federal programs
Giuliani blasts Mamdani’s 9/11 toxic air blame as buried city records come to light
In pictures: Trump, Bush, and more pay their respects at 9/11 ceremonies across three sites on 25th anniversary
Lone holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy trial was only Black person on the jury, panelist reveals: report
WATCH LIVE: Trump, first lady, Hegseth, and more attend 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon
Sept. 11 in photos: Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings shares his images from the aftermath of 9/11
Trump set to honor 9/11 victims and first responders at Pentagon and more top headlines
The Ghouls Come Out After Erika Kirk Breaks Her Silence on Anniversary of Charlie’s Death
We Forgot 9/11: Then We Swore a Mayor In on the Qur’an – Part Two
25 years later, 9/11 memories endure as nation gathers to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost
Ontario premier wants Republicans to lose House and Senate over Trump’s trade war
The unlucky 13: States bordering Canada are particularly hard-hit by trade war
Wendell Berry, 1934-2026
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.
Flashback: How James Woods Encountered, Then Reported Multiple 9/11 Hijackers to the FBI
Trump Rejects Saudi Crown Prince’s Pleas for New U.S. Strikes in Middle East: Report
Trump admin’s fraud crackdown targets foreigners accused of infiltrating U.S. federal programs
Giuliani blasts Mamdani’s 9/11 toxic air blame as buried city records come to light
In pictures: Trump, Bush, and more pay their respects at 9/11 ceremonies across three sites on 25th anniversary
Lone holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy trial was only Black person on the jury, panelist reveals: report
WATCH LIVE: Trump, first lady, Hegseth, and more attend 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon
Sept. 11 in photos: Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings shares his images from the aftermath of 9/11
Trump set to honor 9/11 victims and first responders at Pentagon and more top headlines
The Ghouls Come Out After Erika Kirk Breaks Her Silence on Anniversary of Charlie’s Death
We Forgot 9/11: Then We Swore a Mayor In on the Qur’an – Part Two
25 years later, 9/11 memories endure as nation gathers to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost
Ontario premier wants Republicans to lose House and Senate over Trump’s trade war
The unlucky 13: States bordering Canada are particularly hard-hit by trade war
Wendell Berry, 1934-2026
“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.
