Thompson and Rice Write CBP Regarding the Treatment of Pregnant Women at the Border
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations, sent a letter to Mark Morgan, Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), regarding the treatment of pregnant women detained at the border.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have recently filed multiple complaints with the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General and the Office of Civil Liberties and Civil Liberties that include serious allegations that several pregnant women have been mistreated while in CBP custody and are not receiving proper care or medical treatment.
“[W]e write with profound concerns regarding the treatment of another vulnerable group in CBP detention: pregnant women,” the Members write. “Given that CBP has detained nearly twice as many pregnant women in 2018 as it did in 2017, allegations that these women are not receiving proper care and medical treatment while in custody are alarming. Our concerns are heightened by the current coronavirus pandemic, which poses significant risks for all individuals held in CBP custody but particularly for those with underlying medical conditions. We are deeply troubled by what appears to be a pattern of mistreatment of pregnant women in CBP custody.”
# # #
Press Contact
(Thompson) Adam Comis at 202-225-9978
(Rice) Stuart Malec at 202-225-5516
Next Article Previous Article