Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) is leading an effort by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for a full Justice Department investigation into the deaths of five illegal immigrant children who have died in Border Patrol custody since December, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"DHS and HHS has set up a failed system which is often neglectful, and has led to inhumane conditions at the border," Castro said.
The latest is a 16 year old boy from Guatemala who died in a holding facility in the Rio Grande Valley on Monday from a still unknown condition.
Castro said there needs to be oversight of Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services border operations during the current flood of largely Central American asylum seekers who are trying to sneak into the U.S.
Castro says Congressional Republicans are 'complicit' in the deaths, because they have failed to speak out against what he called 'abuses' by the Trump Administration.
"The Trump Administrastion has spend the last year investng time, money and effort into a border wall, while neglecting the well being of migrants, and often neglecting the well being of their own officers," Castro said.
Castro said the Trump Administration needs to stop the deaths of immigrant children.
“This episode in our nation’s history will be looked upon as a stain on our nation. I would urge all of our colleagues, Republican and Democrat, who care about this issue, who care about the lives of these children, who care about a humane border policy, to join us in calling for an investigation into these deaths."
Analysts say it is not unusual for sick children to join 'migrant caravans' trying to get into the U.S. They say one of the ways immigrant smuggling gangs convince Central Americans to make the long journey to the U.S. is by convincing them that children who suffer from physical conditions can get better medical care in the U.S. than is available at home.