The drama of immigrant children in the US does not yield 1:01
(CNN) -
Border facilities for immigrant minors are "beyond their limits" and experience "deep overcrowding" that makes social distancing "impossible."
Those were the words of court-appointed supervisors in documents released this weekend.
The US is on track to meet a record 2 million migrants at the southern border, according to government estimates
Recommendations made to the court could help federal agencies manage the current humanitarian crisis at the border.
The documents were presented by Dr. Paul Wise and Andrea Ordin, a pair of supervisors appointed by a federal judge in California to report on the conditions of minors at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities. ) and at the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) emergency intake sites under the Flores Agreement.
Precisely, the norm that establishes national standards for the humane treatment of minors in custody.
The figures of migrant minors
On March 30, more than 3,000 unaccompanied migrant minors were being held inside Donna's facility, according to the report.
Of those, more than 500 were under the age of 12, the documents indicated.
About 2,500 of the minors had been in custody longer than the statutory 72-hour limit.
And a "large number" of them resided at Donna's facilities or Border Patrol stations for "up to several weeks."
The overcrowding inside Donna's facilities on certain days was so extensive that "there is no space between the mats," the report detailed.
During Wise's visit in March, more than 500 children under the age of 12 had been held at the facility for more than a week.
The care staff was also recorded as "profoundly inadequate."
Available caregivers should focus on the highest priority children, especially very young children with special health needs.
Migrant minors reunite with their mothers in the US 4:08
Since March 7, 2021, occupancy at the CBP facility in Donna has been between 2,200 and 4,500, according to the report.
Which is well above capacity in the pandemic era of just 500.
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“The open spaces designed for walking, reading or playing are also completely occupied by mats.
Showers designed for 1,000 occupancy are occupied all day.
And some children reported that they did not receive showers for several days.
Recreation time is intended (provided) during the time the individual pods are cleaned.
But the period and supervision of minors varies significantly according to the census, ”the report described.
Supplies
Supervisors determined that supplies of water, fruit, snacks, diapers, infant formula, and other food were adequate.
The observations recorded in the court documents are based on visits by Wise to Border Patrol facilities in the Rio Grande Valley between March 7-9.
These include Donna's CBP Processing Center and Border Patrol stations that receive families with young children and unaccompanied migrant minors.
Between December 2020 and February 2021, the CBP registered a 337% increase in the number of families found, according to the court file.
During that same period, the number of unaccompanied minors found by the agency increased by 89%.
Border facilities have the highest number of immigrant minors since the government began releasing data last week
After much scrutiny, the Joe Biden administration allowed a media camera to enter Donna's processing facility and take a tour with Border Patrol agents last week.
The video recorded inside showed the minors being held in crowded capsules, which are divided by transparent plastic sheets.
CBP did not respond to a request from CNN for comment on the court documents.
Ability to receive migrant minors
Supervisors noted that ORR's ability to receive unaccompanied minors from CBP facilities has been "too limited to locate the growing number" of those found at the border.
Last week, US Health and Human Services spokesman Ken Wolfe said in a statement to CNN that he "works vigorously with its interagency partners to ensure unaccompanied minors are safe and united with family members or other sponsors. as quickly as possible ”.
San Diego houses at least 500 unaccompanied minors 3:48
Wise visited ORR sites that house migrant minors in Midland, Texas, on March 18.
Also the Dallas Convention Center on March 19.
The Midland site has received several dozen minors who tested positive for COVID-19 and were placed in separate rooms, according to supervisors.
The reviewers recommended, among other things, a 'stronger system of inter-agency coordination'.
In addition, "appropriate professional case management services at emergency intake sites."
Precisely "to facilitate quick reunification with family or sponsors."
CBP United States Mexico Border Immigrant children