It’s Christmas Day and the parents of this 8-year old child will receive the most gruesome news about their lovely son courtesy of the U.S. government. CBP is by far the worst serial offender DHS agency and does not even pretend to care for the well-being and lives of migrants under its care.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the largest immigrant rights organization in California, condemns the U.S. government for the death of one more migrant child under its custody and calls for the resignation of DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. The Washington Post reported an 8-year old Guatemalan boy died early Christmas Day while in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Deaths of immigrants while in the custody of DHS agencies are a systematic problem. Since March 2010, 74 people have died while in the custody of CBP. The death of this boy, in addition to the numerous reports of sexual assaults against minors while in ICE detention centers, should remind us the Trump Administration waived criminal background checks for personnel overseeing these families.
How many more children must die while in custody of DHS agencies before Congress will undertake a thorough investigation of the facts and cease all funding to the arrest, detention, deportation, and death of more immigrants? Because of her lies and incompetence, we call on DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to resign immediately.
Angelica Salas, Executive Director for CHIRLA.