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.”
Conservative Commentator Steve Deace Nails the Most Infuriating Part About Democrats’ Midterm Triumph: It Was Preventable
Midterm upheaval of Congress provides little reassurance for Ukraine as ‘nucleus’ of support is ousted or steps down
Latest Numbers: ‘Decoy’ Candidate Could Cost Republicans a Senate Seat as Alaska Race Comes Down to the Wire
Florida congressman diagnoses GOP’s blue tsunami losses: ‘We failed to make them think we cared about them’
Vance courting disgruntled Trump voters to form ‘new right’ alliance after Republican bloodbath, sources say
Star Fox News Reporter Explains How One Midterm Result in Particular Sets the Stage for an Unprecedented Border Disaster
NYC’s Mamdani says Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate victory in Michigan ‘means so much to so many’
Trump ‘couldn’t transfer the love’ of his supporters to other Republicans amid historic midterm loss
Helicopter crash near Miami leaves at least 1 dead, 2 injured: report
Armed security guard hailed as hero after fatally shooting gunman at massive Tampa Citibank site
El Sayed celebrates ‘delicious irony’ that ‘habibi’ Vance has to swear him in: ‘Call me senator’
Rep. Jim Jordan Launches Bid to Become House Minority Leader: Report
Breaking: Mike Johnson Bows Out as House Republican Leader
Majority of Americans broadly reject socialist ideology even as far left surges to power
Democrats seize majority of governors’ offices in election-night shift
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.
Conservative Commentator Steve Deace Nails the Most Infuriating Part About Democrats’ Midterm Triumph: It Was Preventable
Midterm upheaval of Congress provides little reassurance for Ukraine as ‘nucleus’ of support is ousted or steps down
Latest Numbers: ‘Decoy’ Candidate Could Cost Republicans a Senate Seat as Alaska Race Comes Down to the Wire
Florida congressman diagnoses GOP’s blue tsunami losses: ‘We failed to make them think we cared about them’
Vance courting disgruntled Trump voters to form ‘new right’ alliance after Republican bloodbath, sources say
Star Fox News Reporter Explains How One Midterm Result in Particular Sets the Stage for an Unprecedented Border Disaster
NYC’s Mamdani says Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate victory in Michigan ‘means so much to so many’
Trump ‘couldn’t transfer the love’ of his supporters to other Republicans amid historic midterm loss
Helicopter crash near Miami leaves at least 1 dead, 2 injured: report
Armed security guard hailed as hero after fatally shooting gunman at massive Tampa Citibank site
El Sayed celebrates ‘delicious irony’ that ‘habibi’ Vance has to swear him in: ‘Call me senator’
Rep. Jim Jordan Launches Bid to Become House Minority Leader: Report
Breaking: Mike Johnson Bows Out as House Republican Leader
Majority of Americans broadly reject socialist ideology even as far left surges to power
Democrats seize majority of governors’ offices in election-night shift
“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.
