U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is urging further investigation into systemic failures at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding the provision of medical care to migrants in custody. Durbin's call for action comes in response to a report by a CBP employee whistleblower, which revealed years of deficient medical care and CBP's failure to ensure proper oversight. The tragic death of Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez, an 8-year-old girl with sickle cell and congenital heart disease, in CBP custody in Harlingen, Texas, further highlights the need for scrutiny.
Durbin has written a series of letters to CBP, medical care contractor Loyal Source, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), seeking answers and accountability. In his letter to CBP, Durbin expresses his concern that the failure to provide adequate medical care, leading to the avoidable death of Anadith Álvarez, is not an isolated incident. He emphasizes that investigations into substandard medical care in CBP facilities have revealed systemic problems and a broader failure by CBP to properly oversee the provision of medical care. Durbin also raises concerns about the prolonged detention of individuals, including children, and its impact on overall health outcomes.
In his letter to Loyal Source, Durbin highlights the pattern of poor medical care provided to migrants in CBP custody and requests information on the steps being taken by the contractor to improve the quality of medical care. Meanwhile, in his letter to GAO, Durbin calls for a thorough and expeditious review of CBP's medical care for individuals in custody across all its facilities. He points out that both GAO and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General have identified numerous challenges with CBP's provision of medical care and its oversight of contracted medical services.
Durbin's efforts to address this issue are part of a broader commitment to immigration oversight. Earlier this month, Durbin and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led a bicameral comment in support of the Biden Administration's proposal to codify the Flores settlement agreement, which sets minimum standards for the treatment of unaccompanied immigrant children in federal custody.
Under Durbin's leadership, the Senate Judiciary Committee has already held three oversight hearings on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the Biden Administration. This includes the first DHS oversight hearing since January 16, 2018, during the Trump Administration. Durbin's continued dedication to immigration oversight underscores the importance of ensuring the well-being and proper treatment of individuals in CBP custody.
The need for further investigation into systemic failures at CBP and the provision of deficient medical care is clear. Durbin's letters to CBP, Loyal Source, and GAO demand answers and action to address these critical issues. The tragic death of Anadith Álvarez serves as a stark reminder of the urgency to rectify the flaws in the system and provide proper oversight to ensure the health and well-being of migrants in CBP custody.
To find out more, go to this link: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/durbin-presses-for-further-investigation-into-systemic-failures-at-customs-and-border-protection-resulting-in-years-of-deficient-medical-care
