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Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced a series of "Extraordinary Protective Measures" to improve the conditions of detention of children and adults incarcerated in the United States.
Susan Walsh / AP
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Susan Walsh / AP
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced a series of "Extraordinary Protective Measures" to improve the conditions of detention of children and adults in police custody in the United States.
Susan Walsh / AP
Following the death of a second migrant child incarcerated in the United States in the last two weeks, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen announced on Wednesday that the government was asking several federal agencies to assist the Customs and Border Protection Service with new guidelines to improve the care of children and adults detained in federal institutions.
"In response to the unprecedented increase in the number of children in our custody, I have put in place a series of extraordinary protective measures," Nielsen said in a statement.
She explained that the changes had been enacted as a result of the "heartbreaking" death of Felipe Gomez Alonso, an 8-year-old Guatemalan, who died of a cold and a high fever. in New Mexico Monday night. 19659008] Jackelin Caal Maquin, a 7-year-old girl also from Guatemala, died of dehydration and septic shock two days after being detained with her father.
"It is now clear that ants, especially children, are increasingly faced with medical problems and illness caused by their long and dangerous journey," said Nielsen.
Recent deaths are the first deaths of children over the age of ten, according to Nielsen, who cited the remote locations of their crossings and lack of resources as the main barriers preventing first responders from sending in 39; aid. 19659008] Beginning on Tuesday, Border Patrol officers began conducting secondary medical checks on all children in CBP custody, including unaccompanied minors and family unit members traveling with children. other family members or legal guardians.
receive further assessment of the hands as soon as possible after the apprehension – whether or not the escort asked
The Secretary of Homeland Security stated that she had sought the Department of National Defense to strengthen the medical workforce along the border, as well as the US Coast Guard medical staff to evaluate CBP's medical programs and make recommendations for improvements. 19659008] In addition, Nielsen said: "I have personally contacted the Centers for Disease Control to ask their experts to conduct an investigation into the rising number of sick children crossing our borders and to find out more about how to get rid of sick children. identify additional steps that hospitals along the border should take to prepare and treat them. "
An earlier statement by CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan indicated that the agency was considering requesting additional assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Health and Human Services "to strengthen the additional medical capabilities of the US Border Patrol."
McAleenan said the two agencies would cooperate "also on the number of children in detention "- a suggestion that has aroused strong criticism from Representative Lou Correa, a member of the American Congressional Hispanic Caucus from Cal Iforny and elected chair of the House Homeland Security Supervision subcommittee.
" In the era of interconnectivity in the field of high technology, why do not we have any ". a precise workforce? "he asked." This raises a lot of red flags. "
Correa supported the decision announced by CBP to begin a comprehensive review of its polite on the "custody and care of children under the age of 10 in pre-trial detention and beyond 24 hours". It has long been unthinkable that agents and politicians of the Border Patrol perceive migrants as a mentalist.
"The CBP and Border Patrol did not understand that it was a humanitarian and refugee crisis and they are still stuck in a zero mentality." and deterrence, when in reality, it is families fleeing violence who need doctors and social services "when they arrive in the United States to seek asylum, Correa said. .
The MP stated that the promises of increased medical staff did not adequately address the systematic issue and management issues within CBP that resulted in the deaths of Jackelin and Felipe.
In the case of the boy, "he was transported to a local medical center, then released and then ed" says Correa. "It tells me that we still have many gaps in the system that we have to fill."
Andrew Meehan, CBP's Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs, told NPR that there had been "a dramatic increase in the number of families and children getting closer to the border."
According to CBP, 48,287 family units were apprehended in October and November, compared with 11,852 family units apprehended during the same period last year.
unaccompanied minors are also increasing; 10,265 children traveled alone in October and November of this fiscal year, while 7,127 were detained in the same two months of the previous year.
Meehan said that the changing demographics of incoming migrants had exerted tremendous pressure on existing admissions systems. detention centers built 20 to 30 years ago. "They are supposed to treat single adults traveling generally for seasonal work" from Mexico, he said.
Secretary Nielsen accused parents of the influx of young children, suggesting that America has an "immigration system that rewards parents for their children alone through the border, a system preventing parents who bring their children with a dangerous and illegal journey to suffer the consequences of their actions, an asylum procedure that can not quickly help those who qualify for the benefit of the child; asylum. "
Under current law, non-Mexican unaccompanied children can not be released or withdrawn from the United States – they are assigned to a health center and social services. While family units are usually released inside while they are waiting for an asylum procedure.
Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro, incoming president of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, told NPR All That Was Necessary (19459036). on its last plan to relieve overcrowding problems at border patrol stations and checkpoints in El Paso. Officials said they "are considering all options" to reduce the number of people in detention by partnering with local non-governmental organizations to provide temporary housing.
"I hope that [CBP] will ask Congress for medical resources and supplies and the training, equipment, and personnel they need to properly treat migrants who arrive at the US border with the United States. Mexico, "said Castro.
"It should be noted that the lack of training, equipment and personnel is also a danger for CBP staff working there," he added.
It is "noteworthy" that Congress has not received an official account of the number of children who have died on the premises of CBP over the past year and has called the number of children who have died in the past year.
"Because the president has adopted such a dehumanizing and criminalizing tone towards asylum seekers and migrants, I think it is important to obtain an answer to that question, "he said. "And until we get an official count, I think that with this administration everything is possible."
NPR's Joel Rose contributed to this report.
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