Letter to Ronald Vitiello, Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Kevin McAleenan, Commissioner for US Customs and Border Protection, and Scott Lloyd, Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement - Demands Immediate Investigation into Reported Death of Child Held at Texas ICE Facility

Letter

Dear Acting Director Vitiello, Commissioner McAleenan, and Director Lloyd:

We write to request an immediate investigation into the reported death of a child held at the South Texas Family Detention Center in Dilley, Texas. In the wake of the Trump Administration's cruel policy of separating children from their parents -- and its dismally inadequate attempt at remedying a crisis of its own making -- Congress and the American people deserve to know if these atrocious actions are placing children's lives in danger.

As you know, recent reports indicate that a migrant toddler held at your detention center in Dilley died soon after being released from your custody. We therefore ask that your agencies promptly launch an investigation into this death and ensure that your report back to Congress includes answers to the following questions:

1. Have any children detained at the South Texas Residential Center -- or any other facility used by ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), or any combination of these entities, including facilities owned or managed wholly or in part by private sector contractors -- died while in custody of ICE or another federal agency?

a. If so, under what circumstances?

2. For children detained in facilities (e.g. CBP facilities) that are not designed to hold children, what safeguards exist to ensure children's health needs are met?

Are pediatricians on site to address the medical needs of children?

3. Have any detained children died after being released from one of the referenced facilities in Question 1?

If so, how many children have died and under what circumstances?

a. How many have died as a direct or indirect result of the conditions, policies, lack of oversight, or personnel actions at these facilities?

4. What procedures are in place to ensure the health and welfare of detained children in ICE, CBP, or ORR custody, including after the release of such children?

What oversight mechanisms exist to ensure robust compliance with these procedures?

5. What information about medical treatment provided to children while in detention is provided to parents, guardians, or others responsible for such children when they are released from ICE custody?

Are there mechanisms in place to expeditiously transfer medical records upon the request of the individual's physician?

a. What is the average length of time for these records to be transferred?

b. Upon request, are parents or guardians provided such information in a language other than English?

6. How long had the child who reportedly died shortly after being released from ICE custody been under the care of ICE, CBP, or ORR personnel?

Is there any evidence that suggests that the child been subject to abuse, neglect, or unapproved medical treatment while in custody?

7. What treatment did the child receive while in government custody related to the child's respiratory illness?

Was the child ever transferred to a hospital or referred and taken to outside care?

8. Please provide more information on the number and types of facilities where the child was detained, as well as steps each facility involved took to ensure the child's medical records were transferred.

9. What is the average wait time for medical care for children? Please provide a breakdown by facility.

We demand immediate answers to these questions as well as an investigation into this death, with the findings made public within 30 days of the investigation's completion.

Your agencies have been entrusted with the lives of vulnerable children and families. The idea of anyone dying after receiving substandard medical care while in our government's care is inexcusable. The death of this child, in particular, is unacceptable and contrary to our American values. As Members of Congress, as women and, in many cases, as mothers ourselves, on behalf of the American people and all of the families we represent, we demand answers.

Sincerely,

Source