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.”

Trump admin sues Illinois Gov. Pritzker over laws shielding migrants from courthouse arrests

Trump to deploy 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans in crime crackdown

PA man charged with attempting to make weapons of mass destruction after neighbor tip

4 indicted in foiled New Year’s Eve terror bombing plot targeting Southern California businesses

Breaking: FBI Confirms Epstein Letter to Larry Nassar Implicating Trump Is a Complete Fake

Blue City Paradise: Seattle Woman, 75, Now Partially Blind After Board with Screw Protruding Was Slammed Into Her Head – Suspect Arrested 8 Times in 2025 Alone

Christmastime ICE Operation ‘Angel’s Honor’ nets child rapist, torturer

Proceedings paused against ‘Zizian’ murder suspect following competency claims

Stacy Garrity’s campaign releases new ominous ad targeting Josh Shapiro

Fox News Politics Newsletter: Boasberg says Trump must provide due process to CECOT migrants

New US military GenAI tool ‘critical first step’ in future of warfare, says expert

DOJ walks back Biden-era abortion policy, bars VA from funding procedures

Supreme Court rules on legality of Trump National Guard deployment to Illinois

End of Story: New York Times Admits There’s Zero Evidence Trump Had Anything to Do with Epstein’s Abuse, Trafficking of Minors

Missouri Governor Blasts Chiefs’ Decision to ‘Abandon’ Kansas City in Blistering Statement

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.