HOUSTON U.S. Customs and Border Protection has temporarily stopped sending migrants to a massive processing center in South Texas following the death of a 16-year-old who fell ill there and a flu outbreak.
The teenager, Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, was the fifth Guatemalan migrant youth to die after arriving at the border since December, prompting members of Congress to call for a federal investigation.
We are deeply concerned that the overcrowded conditions at Border Patrol holding facilities are placing detained migrants at risk, Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois and two dozen fellow senators wrote to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general Wednesday, demanding they investigate immigration detention facilities on the border holding youths and families.
This is an epidemic of death, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, said late Tuesday in calling for an investigation as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Nobody had died for 10 years. And in the last six months, youve had five deaths.
The deaths come amid a record increase in migrant families and children crossing the border, particularly in South Texas. Federal agents detained 109,144 migrants last month at the southern border (including ports of entry) the highest number since 2007. The Border Patrol has responded by erecting large tents and announced plans last week to build at least two more in the Rio Grande Valley to help house 8,000 migrants in custody. Last week, officials said they were also flying migrants from there to Del Rio, Texas, and to San Diego to relieve crowding.
The McAllen processing center where Carlos was held, known among migrants as la perrera, or the doghouse, was designed for 1,500 migrants but already housed 2,400 last month. During a media tour, sick parents and children could be seen resting on mats behind a partition.
During a congressional hearing Wednesday, acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan appealed for more resources to handle a surge of migrant families.
Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., a registered nurse serving on the House Homeland Security Committee, questioned what McAleenans agency was doing to prevent further migrant child deaths.
This is more than a question of resources. Congress has been more than willing to provide resources and to work with you, Mr. Secretary, to address the security and humanitarian concerns, Underwood said. At this point, with five children dead and 5,000 separated from their families, this is intentional. Its a policy choice being made by this administration and its cruel and inhumane.
The ranking Republican on the committee, Mike Rogers of Alabama, objected, and the committee voted 9-7 to strike Underwoods statement.
In a heated exchange before the committee vote, Underwood insisted McAleenan should be held accountable because yesterday another child died under his leadership.
Rogers shot back: Because we cant get the resources to help them. Thats what hes trying to get the money to stop this.
Border Patrol has released only general information about how the 16-year-old died this week and steps taken to prevent further deaths.
Officials have said Carlos was detained without his parents near Hidalgo, Texas, on May 13 and held in the McAllen processing center until last Sunday. That morning, Carlos told agents he was not feeling well and a nurse diagnosed him with the flu. He was treated with Tamiflu and moved to a Border Patrol station about 20 miles away in Weslaco, where he could be isolated from other migrants. The next morning, he was found dead during a routine welfare check.
Its not clear why Carlos was held by Border Patrol for almost a week. By law, migrant youths who arrive at the border without an adult are supposed to be transferred within 72 hours to shelters operated by the Department of Health and Human Services.
