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.”

Watch: UFC Star Gets on the Phone with Trump Immediately After Big Win

Attacks on first responders would be federal crime under bipartisan bill

UK smuggled in thousands of Afghans after 2022 data leak

GOP’s Mike Rogers raises $1.5 million in bid to flip Michigan Senate seat

Republican leading House Budget Committee looks ahead after passing Big Beautiful Bill

Yankees Star Aaron Judge Includes Subtle Biblical Message on His All-Star Game Gear

Senate GOP braces for test vote on Trump’s $9.4B clawback package

Florida teen fights off alligator that dragged her underwater

Video of suspected ‘honor killing’ plot resurfaces as parents stand trial for attempted murder

Wild Footage: Raging Floodwaters Wreak Havoc on NYC Subway System, Strand Riders

The First Lady Was the One Who Pointed Out Putin’s Lies to the President: Trump

Former Obama staffer rips Cuomo campaign video: ‘No message, no charisma’

Federal judges refuse to permanently appoint interim US attorney in NY

Why Rahm Emanuel thinks his ‘Rahm-bo’ reputation could help him in 2028 elections

AOC Sets Herself Up to Pay $15 Million to Trump After She Lets Keyboard Get Ahead of Her Brain

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.