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.”

Co-pilot stabbed during Flydubai flight describes lifesaving moment he opened cockpit door

Rain or Shine: Trump Rushes to Oklahoma Rally by Highway After Severe Weather Grounds Him

How Kansas became collateral damage in Trump’s Canadian trade war — and threw the local GOP for a loop

Inside the House GOP’s 4-week battle plan to save its majority

Seattle Announces New Minimum Wage, Blasts Through $22 Threshold for First Time in U.S. History

Vance embodies Nixon’s populist, outsider qualities

Trump’s first-year government overhaul delivers change Washington hasn’t seen since the 1960s

Trump admin wants to require tax filers to disclose citizenship status to IRS

Lawyers, experts urge Tennessee governor to commute Christa Pike’s sentence after botched execution

AOC’s dramatic retelling of Cornell rape allegations collides with complaint details

Trans NYT Executive Faced Child Cruelty Charges Before Shooting Death – Police Say In-Laws Opened Fire

Texts cited by Eric Schmitt at Jack Smith hearing lacked team names: Report

Breaking: Trump Economy Notches Win as US Jobless Numbers Plummet to Half-Century Low Last Seen in 1969

College professor accused of sending explicit Snapchat messages in child solicitation case: sheriff’s office

EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Court prayer grotto case could impact ‘every single zoning law’ in America, attorney says

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.