Study: Illegal immigrant children mistreated in custody

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: AP

DALLAS — Children caught trying to slip illegally into the U.S. are mistreated while in custody, transported home unsafely and denied access to representation, a study released Thursday contends.

The Austin-based think tank Center for Public Policy Priorities outlined a series of shortcomings by the federal government in dealing with unaccompanied illegal immigrant children taken into custody.

According to the study, inadequate policies lead to the maltreatment, including children going without water at U.S. Border Patrol stations, being handcuffed, having their requests for medical attention ignored, and getting struck and knocked down by agents.

Calls seeking comment from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were not immediately returned Thursday.

According to the study, many children faced complicated immigration proceedings without legal representation. Some 50 to 70 percent of detained unaccompanied minors went before an immigration judge without a lawyer, the study said.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6111020.html

[MountainLaurel]

1. Advocates have been saying this for years n/t

[AlphaCentauri]

2. Must be true n/t

[crickets]

3. Unacceptable. Kick

[sonias]

4. The the alleged "pro-life" Texas Republicans do nothing to help

After all there is a difference in the lives they try to save. Undocumented children are not their concern. They can easily turn a blind eye to the plight of living children who are being abused in their own state.

:grr:

Sonia

[fishwax]

5. that's about the size of it

:grr:

[BlueIris]

6. Horrifying. An adjective I've used all too frequently lately. nt