U.S. border agency acting head leaving amid child detentions outcry

[Jonathan Fairfield]

U.S. border agency acting head leaving amid child detentions outcry

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner John Sanders attends a Police Week event in Washington, U.S. May 16, 2019. Donna Burton/CBP/Handout via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, John Sanders, is resigning and will leave his post on July 5, the agency said on Tuesday, a move that coincides with an outcry over the treatment of detained migrant children.

 

Attorneys raised alarms last week after finding more than 300 migrant children in an overcrowded Texas border patrol station, where they said some had been held for weeks without adequate food and water.

 

Most of the children were transferred to other facilities but then 100 were moved back to the station in Clint, Texas, CBP officials told reporters on Tuesday.

 

The accounts from lawyers of children wearing soiled clothes and older children caring for younger ones has increased criticism by immigration activists and Democrats of Republican President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies.

 

Sanders has led the agency since April, when Trump reshuffled the management of U.S. immigration agencies under the Department of Homeland Security.

 

Before taking over CBP, he was the agency’s chief operating officer and had also been the Transportation Security Administration’s chief technology officer. His resignation was first reported by The New York Times.

 

A surge in migrant families, mostly from Central America, has overwhelmed U.S. border facilities. Many children crossing the border alone, and those separated from adults who are not their parents, are supposed to be transferred quickly out of border patrol custody.

 

The lawyers who described the conditions at the Texas facility monitor compliance with a legal settlement that attempts to ensure children are adequately cared for while they are being detained by the government.

 

A CBP official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the agency acknowledges that it is does not want custody of the children because “our facilities were not designed for that.”

 

The official said the children were fed three meals a day and given snacks like “burritos, ramen noodles, oatmeal cups, and fruit juice” and allowed showers at least once every three days.

 

From March 19 to date, the CBP has released 96,000 “family units” but still holds thousands of people in custody, CBP officials said. Many Central American families who say they fear returning to their home countries seek asylum in the United States and are often released pending immigration court proceedings.

 

Cracking down on immigration has been a priority for Trump but the president has proven unable to push most of his goals through Congress.

 

On Tuesday, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives said they plan to approve $4.5 billion in emergency funding to address the crisis caused by the migrant surge, but Trump has threatened to veto the measure.

 

“This week we have to solve the humanitarian crisis,” House of Representatives Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries told reporters, predicting that the funding package would pass the House with a “strong Democratic vote.”

 

But lawmakers were also rushing to add language before the vote to mandate better health and nutrition standards at border facilities. The changes were being made after some liberal Democrats expressed alarm that not enough was being done to improve conditions at the border.

 

U.S. border agents apprehended 132,887 people on the southwest border in May, according to CBP data, a more than 30 percent increase from April. The last time apprehensions topped that level was more than a decade ago in March 2006, the data showed.

 

Reporting by Makini Brice and Andy Sullivan; Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York and Kristina Cooke in Washington, Editing by Grant McCool

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-26

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[darksidedog]

16 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Attorneys raised alarms last week after finding more than 300 migrant children in an overcrowded Texas border patrol station, where they said some had been held for weeks without adequate food and water.

Not going to get involved with the politics regarding the detention policy, other than to say that in this day and age, a country with standards as high as America, should be able to provide a sufficient level of care for children and adults in its custody. If parents were found to be treating their own children in such a manner, the authorities would remove the kids and file charges for abuse. It is beyond time for the partisan bickering to cease and a practical and humane solution found.

Who these migrants are, where they came from and why, is not the point under discussion. Basic human rights are.

[riclag]

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Not going to get involved with the politics regarding the detention policy, other than to say that in this day and age, a country with standards as high as America, should be able to provide a sufficient level of care for children and adults in its custody. If parents were found to be treating their own children in such a manner, the authorities would remove the kids and file charges for abuse. It is beyond time for the partisan bickering to cease and a practical and humane solution found.

Who these migrants are, where they came from and why, is not the point under discussion. Basic human rights are.

"Who these migrants are, where they came from and why, is not the point under discussion. Basic human rights are".

 The point goes hand and hand with the issue of why are hundreds of thousands of migrants coming to America,A reasonable person would ask why !  Poor,famine,violent living conditions many would say! Why doesn't a humanitarian effort start at the home country! Your blaming America, that's not fair! Lets try the United Nations,maybe they have a better idea to take care of the thousands of people who are leaving their home country. Try the country of origin!

These issues  have been around for decades! America, publicly and privately donates millions to these countries .

Have you ever been to some of these large cities in America and seen the many homeless,sick,drug dependent individuals  living in tent's on the sidewalks.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

I’m firmly of the view that the obscenity which is Trump child detention policies will not sit well with the decency that marks the vast majority of Americans.

 

As the whole truth of what is happening here gets out, this above all else will bring Trump down.

 

His legacy an obscene stain on American history.

[darksidedog]

10 minutes ago, riclag said:

"Who these migrants are, where they came from and why, is not the point under discussion. Basic human rights are".

 The point goes hand and hand with the issue of why are hundreds of thousands of migrants coming to America,A reasonable person would ask why !  Poor,famine,violent living conditions many would say! Why doesn't a humanitarian effort start at the home country! Your blaming America, that's not fair! Lets try the United Nations,maybe they have a better idea to take care of the thousands of people who are leaving their home country. Try the country of origin!

These issues  have been around for decades! America, publicly and privately donates millions to these countries .

Have you ever been to some of these large cities in America and seen the many homeless,sick,drug dependent individuals  living in tent's on the sidewalks.

 

 

I deliberately added my line at the end of my post about it not being important in this circumstance, who the refugees were, where they came from and why for one very simple reason. There are laws and agreements in place, both nationally and internationally with the UN on peoples basic rights. The US is signatory to the UN ones. Yes, there may be some very shitty people among the refugees, but there are also a very large number who are fleeing for very valid reasons. Again though, that is not important in this circumstance. What matters is that those who are charged with upholding the law, do so, and respect the laws which govern them, especially where children are concerned..

What is going on in the refugees country of origin is obviously of importance, and as a separate issue needs to be addressed. But the issue here is not about who, or why, but of basic human decency and if America breaks international law with seeming impunity, how can it subsequently expect others to respect its own laws?

[helpisgood]

On 6/26/2019 at 12:27 PM, riclag said:

"Who these migrants are, where they came from and why, is not the point under discussion. Basic human rights are".

 The point goes hand and hand with the issue of why are hundreds of thousands of migrants coming to America,A reasonable person would ask why !  Poor,famine,violent living conditions many would say! Why doesn't a humanitarian effort start at the home country! Your blaming America, that's not fair! Lets try the United Nations,maybe they have a better idea to take care of the thousands of people who are leaving their home country. Try the country of origin!

These issues  have been around for decades! America, publicly and privately donates millions to these countries .

Have you ever been to some of these large cities in America and seen the many homeless,sick,drug dependent individuals  living in tent's on the sidewalks. 

 

 

 

Why are these Central American countries so dysfunctional causing all of these people willing to transverse a less-than-safe, to put it mildly, Mexico and a very long trek?  Now, that's a good question.

 

The answers lie with the actions of the United Fruit Co., The Dulles Bros., et al.  Even American Gen. Smedley Butler (I believe the most highly decorated American soldier up to his time) even wrote a book called War is a Racket.  So, he was far from being a "snowflake lefty" or whatever the latest expression may be.  In essence, Butler stated that he fought overseas for the benefit of American foreign businesses, not for spreading democracy.  Butler went so far as to compare all of this to Capone's racketeering. 

 

If you are interested, I am sure there is a plethora of material to corroborate Butler's statements and even more that came after him.

 

So, why are they here?  These dysfunctional countries have American fingerprints all over them.  In short, it was greed.

 

Here's just one source that directly addresses the issue (includes a long quote from Butler):

 

https://citizentruth.org/us-policy-is-inextricably-linked-to-the-refugee-crisis-in-central-america/

 

Edited June 27, 2019 by metisdead
Please do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes or wording.

[riclag]

1 hour ago, helpisgood said:

 

Why are these Central American countries so dysfunctional causing all of these people willing to transverse a less-than-safe, to put it mildly, Mexico and a very long trek?  Now, that's a good question.

 

The answers lie with the actions of the United Fruit Co., The Dulles Bros., et al.  Even American Gen. Smedley Butler (I believe the most highly decorated American soldier up to his time) even wrote a book called War is a Racket.  So, he was far from being a "snowflake lefty" or whatever the latest expression may be.  In essence, Butler stated that he fought overseas for the benefit of American foreign businesses, not for spreading democracy.  Butler went so far as to compare all of this to Capone's racketeering. 

 

If you are interested, I am sure there is a plethora of material to corroborate Butler's statements and even more that came after him.

 

So, why are they here?  These dysfunctional countries have American fingerprints all over them.  In short, it was greed.

 

Here's just one source that directly addresses the issue (includes a long quote from Butler):

 

https://citizentruth.org/us-policy-is-inextricably-linked-to-the-refugee-crisis-in-central-america/

 

The USA is a haven for the less fortunate and needy of the world! Not just central America, seems like in the 400,000 that came this year some were from 47 or so other countries.

" the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” This saying forgot about how  to endure once you come here ,never mind the citizens (Americans) that are struggling on the streets, to find a way in life that were born here! 

The U.S. Border Patrol chief testified Thursday(past article) that migrants from 52 countries have illegally crossed the border this year as she described an agency “overwhelmed on a daily basis” by the escalating crisis".

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/illegal-immigrants-from-52-countries-crossed-u-s-mexico-border-this-year-top-official-says

 

 

Edited June 26, 2019 by riclag

[stevenl]

5 minutes ago, riclag said:

The USA is a haven for the less fortunate and needy of the world! Not just central America, seems like in the 400,000 that came this year some were from 47 or so other countries.

" the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” This saying forgot about how  to endure once you come here ,never mind the citizens (Americans) that are struggling on the streets, to find a way in life that were born here! 

The U.S. Border Patrol chief testified Thursday(past article) that migrants from 52 countries have illegally crossed the border this year as she described an agency “overwhelmed on a daily basis” by the escalating crisis".

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/illegal-immigrants-from-52-countries-crossed-u-s-mexico-border-this-year-top-official-says

 

 

You realise that part of the problem of the present increase is that the present administration severely cut into the budgets to solve the problems in their home countries? Add to that the increasing hurdles put up at the borders to enter legally, hence the present increase.

[Paul Henry]

Another ACTING head acting out his job without ability.Drain the swamp and employ the top people said Donald. More top vacancies than an employment agency and the country continues to spiral downward rudderless and Donald is running out of "BUDDIES" to employ.

[Tug]

No excuses this is unamerican the buck stops with Donald no matter how hard he try’s to blame others 

[Credo]

11 hours ago, riclag said:

"Who these migrants are, where they came from and why, is not the point under discussion. Basic human rights are".

 The point goes hand and hand with the issue of why are hundreds of thousands of migrants coming to America,A reasonable person would ask why !  Poor,famine,violent living conditions many would say! Why doesn't a humanitarian effort start at the home country! Your blaming America, that's not fair! Lets try the United Nations,maybe they have a better idea to take care of the thousands of people who are leaving their home country. Try the country of origin!

These issues  have been around for decades! America, publicly and privately donates millions to these countries .

Have you ever been to some of these large cities in America and seen the many homeless,sick,drug dependent individuals  living in tent's on the sidewalks.

 

 

Well that's an interesting take on things.   I was under the firm impression that the conservative element was against the UN, but now somehow wants the UN involved?   I am quite sure if asked, they would be more than willing to help, but you might not like what they say and do.   They mostly likely would be involved in both the detention policy and in the home country.   

 

As far as the conditions in the home country being bad, they certainly are, so please tell me why Trump pulled funding from those countries.   That will only exacerbate the situation and create more problems.   

 

At the core of this entire situation is the fact that Trump has lied to the American public and congress.   He said he had discontinued his separation policy.   He did not, and the separations have continued.   The humanitarian crisis is largely one of his own making.   

 

[bristolboy]

12 hours ago, riclag said:

"Who these migrants are, where they came from and why, is not the point under discussion. Basic human rights are".

 The point goes hand and hand with the issue of why are hundreds of thousands of migrants coming to America,A reasonable person would ask why !  Poor,famine,violent living conditions many would say! Why doesn't a humanitarian effort start at the home country! Your blaming America, that's not fair! Lets try the United Nations,maybe they have a better idea to take care of the thousands of people who are leaving their home country. Try the country of origin!

These issues  have been around for decades! America, publicly and privately donates millions to these countries .

Have you ever been to some of these large cities in America and seen the many homeless,sick,drug dependent individuals  living in tent's on the sidewalks.

 

 

And instead of increasing aid to those affected nations, Trump has actually slashed it.

[bendejo]

The guy DT will be replacing him with is one of those Fox News nutters screaming that these kids will become MS-13 members.

 

 

[howbri]

21 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Not going to get involved with the politics regarding the detention policy, other than to say that in this day and age, a country with standards as high as America, should be able to provide a sufficient level of care for children and adults in its custody. If parents were found to be treating their own children in such a manner, the authorities would remove the kids and file charges for abuse. It is beyond time for the partisan bickering to cease and a practical and humane solution found.

Who these migrants are, where they came from and why, is not the point under discussion. Basic human rights are.

Is the U.S. expected to be a baby sitter for all of S. America?

[howbri]

5 hours ago, bristolboy said:

And instead of increasing aid to those affected nations, Trump has actually slashed it.

Deservedly so. They are enabling the lawless caravans of invaders.

[Guest Jerry787]

how a democracy, or so called democracy who want to teach the world about freedom and democracy can act like this on children, shame on who votes such politicians  !