The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is facing serious allegations of human rights abuses after detaining a family, including U.S. citizens, for over 24 hours and denying them critical medical care. The CBP's actions have been described as a violation of due process rights and a denial of urgent medical care for a 10-year-old girl recovering from brain surgery. The family was reportedly forced back to Mexico, despite urgent medical needs that required treatment at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.
The complaint filed against CBP highlights that their medical team was aware of the complex medical needs of the family, which included a 15-year-old son and another child with a heart disorder known as long QT syndrome. Despite this knowledge, the CBP did not transfer the 10-year-old girl to a hospital or medical care facility for a pediatric medical review. Instead, the entire family was detained under deplorable conditions, including being held in a hot, dirty, and brightly lit cell.
“It was clear to CBP’s medical team that they had custody of three children with complex medical needs, one of whom was complaining of urgent and serious symptoms, two of whom were US citizens,” the complaint stated.
The family's ordeal did not end with detention. CBP presented the parents with an impossible choice: leave their children in U.S. government custody or face deportation together. Ultimately, the family was forced to Mexico, a move that disrupted the 10-year-old girl's medical care and left them fearing for their safety due to the lack of access to necessary healthcare.
“Instead of granting her that care, CBP forced a child who was still recovering from brain surgery to sleep in a hot, dirty, brightly lit cell,” the complaint further detailed.
A spokesperson for CBP countered these allegations by stating that “the facts as reported are inaccurate.” However, they declined to comment on the specifics of the case due to privacy reasons.
“For privacy reasons, we cannot comment on the specifics of this case,” said the spokesperson for CBP.
The Texas Civil Rights Project has called for an immediate investigation into the CBP's actions and emphasized the urgency of reuniting the family to ensure the daughter receives the necessary medical treatment.
“Open an immediate investigation,” urged the Texas Civil Rights Project, highlighting their concern for the family's situation.
The CBP's actions have been described by the family as a course of abuse and humiliation, violating their due process rights and denying critical medical care. This incident raises significant concerns about the treatment of individuals in CBP custody, particularly those with pressing health issues.