Senior House Democrats Send Letter to DHS Inspector General Demanding Answers in Tragedy of 7-Year-Old Girl Who Died in Customs and Border Protection Custody

Statement

Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, led a letter signed by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Inspector General John Kelly following news of a 7-year-old girl who died last week while in the custody of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials.

The death, first revealed by the Washington Post, raises significant questions about the conditions in CBP's short-term holding facilities, and the general suitability of such facilities for families given that Border Patrol stations were never designed to hold children. In their letter, the Members requested the IG's office begin an immediate formal investigation with the expectation that DHS would quickly provide answers to Congress on why this tragedy happened, what policies may have been contributing factors in a young girl's death, and how it was never reported by CBP as directed by Congress in the statement accompanying the FY18 DHS Funding bill.

"Due to the seriousness of this tragedy and the many questions that remain, we request you initiate an investigation into this incident, as well as CBP policies or practices that may have contributed to the child's death," the Members wrote. "The investigation should focus on policies and practices designed to protect health and safety, as well as policies and practices that may result in increased migration through particularly harsh terrain."