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.”

Mamdani’s response to Trump’s Iran strike sparks conservative backlash: ‘Rooting for the ayatollah’

Iran vows ‘decisive’ self-defense at UN after Trump kills supreme leader in Operation Epic Fury

Concerns rise over DHS shutdown in shadow of Iran strikes: ‘Now would be a good time’ to end it

Jeb Bush commends former rival Trump’s Iran operation: ‘This is their time to take their country back’

Man confesses to killing 7-year-old while on the lam after DNA links him to 30-year cold case: authorities

Obama official who backed Iran deal sparks online outrage with reaction to Trump’s strike: ‘Sit this one out’

Bill Clinton’s credibility threatened by decades of scandals amid grilling over Epstein ties

Trump says Khamenei is dead: ‘The single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country’

Monitoring the situation: White House releases photos of Trump, Rubio and team being briefed on Iran operation

Iran Supreme Leader Targeted, Believed Killed, in Sweeping US-Israeli Strikes

Trump orders strikes on Iran; experts say he can bypass Congress (for now)

The US and Israel attacked Iran: What we know

Trump finds unlikely Democratic allies on decision to strike Iran

Democrats buck party leaders to defend Trump’s ‘decisive action’ on Iran

Nancy Guthrie missing: Forensic scientist encourages new investigative approach since case ‘isn’t cold yet’

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.