Currents News Staff
On July 2, protests are taking place across the country to demand closure of detention facilities holding migrant children and families.
Eleven migrants in total have died in U.S. custody since September in what is being described as a “human rights crisis” at the southern border, specifically at facilities where migrant children are being held.
“I am very confident in what it is we are doing by way of caring for these individuals, these incredibly vulnerable populations in our custody again in absolutely over-saturated conditions,” said Robert Perez, Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Others aren’t quite as confident, claiming that some were forced to drink water out of a toilet.
“What we saw today was unconscionable,” said Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Members of Congress visited two border patrol facilities in Texas on July 1, after reports of deteriorating and unsanitary conditions.
“If you’re a parent or a grandparent out there, I would say look at your child and go hug your child because you would not want a law enforcement agent to treat your child the way we see those kids being treated,” said California Democratic Representative Norma Torres.
The reports have sparked protests in places all across the country.
“We’re having, at Customs Border Patrol, to detain these people longer than these facilities were ever designed to do. We take any and every allegation of misconduct very seriously. We get to the bottom of the facts, and there will be consequences to those who do not adhere to our standards of conduct,” said Perez.