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.”
South Carolina mom couldn’t remember last time she fed 2 daughters before they were found dead: affidavit
Another One: College Prof, Ex-Dem Candidate Arrested After His DNA Found in 15-Year-Old’s Rape Kit, Cops Say
Education Dept. Goes Viral with Takedown of ‘Fake News’ Story on Loan Cuts: No More Handouts for Failing Degrees
Even Healthcare Workers Are Dropping Health Coverage as Obamacare Premiums Hit New Heights
Trump drops Republican Senator’s phone number in social post over fury on stalled bill
Republicans Pour Unprecedented Amounts of Money Defending Seats Trump Won by Double Digits
Tennessee prison chief resigns after failed execution as former US attorney tapped to lead independent review
Firebrand GOP rep: Democrats side with Iran ‘simply because they hate’ Trump
Springsteen, other stars share stage with hardcore leftist groups at music fest
Death Row Inmate Christa Pike Kept Alive With Ventilator After Botched Execution as Hospital Staff Tries to ‘Save’ Her
Newsom slaps 25% tax on private detention centers in sweeping pushback against key Trump policy
Watch: No Word from Pro-Palestinian Gays After Islamic Preacher Encourages Men to Execute Them, Strike Women
Trump’s attempted assassin sent mysterious texts about 3D printer leading up to Butler, Pa. shooting: report
DHS exposes dilemma behind SCOTUS deportation fight: ‘We have two choices’
MAGA mom’s dire warning over tech guardrails as Trump puts pedal to the metal on race with China
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.
South Carolina mom couldn’t remember last time she fed 2 daughters before they were found dead: affidavit
Another One: College Prof, Ex-Dem Candidate Arrested After His DNA Found in 15-Year-Old’s Rape Kit, Cops Say
Education Dept. Goes Viral with Takedown of ‘Fake News’ Story on Loan Cuts: No More Handouts for Failing Degrees
Even Healthcare Workers Are Dropping Health Coverage as Obamacare Premiums Hit New Heights
Trump drops Republican Senator’s phone number in social post over fury on stalled bill
Republicans Pour Unprecedented Amounts of Money Defending Seats Trump Won by Double Digits
Tennessee prison chief resigns after failed execution as former US attorney tapped to lead independent review
Firebrand GOP rep: Democrats side with Iran ‘simply because they hate’ Trump
Springsteen, other stars share stage with hardcore leftist groups at music fest
Death Row Inmate Christa Pike Kept Alive With Ventilator After Botched Execution as Hospital Staff Tries to ‘Save’ Her
Newsom slaps 25% tax on private detention centers in sweeping pushback against key Trump policy
Watch: No Word from Pro-Palestinian Gays After Islamic Preacher Encourages Men to Execute Them, Strike Women
Trump’s attempted assassin sent mysterious texts about 3D printer leading up to Butler, Pa. shooting: report
DHS exposes dilemma behind SCOTUS deportation fight: ‘We have two choices’
MAGA mom’s dire warning over tech guardrails as Trump puts pedal to the metal on race with China
“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.
