We Demand The United Nations Investigate Abuses by Customs & Border Protection On U.S. Soil
Human Rights Violations Committed Against Children Are Rampant Amid Chaos & Confusion in Fed Agency
Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is calling for the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to intervene at sites under the control of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) where hundreds of children are being held in conditions reported to violate international laws for the care of refugees. The action by LULAC comes at the same time that Commissioner John Sanders announced his resignation as acting head of CBP.
“This is too little, too late and instead of a resignation, charges of crimes against humanity need to be considered against Sanders and others who have allowed some of the worst acts in U.S. history to be committed against innocent children as young as two years,” said LULAC National President Domingo Garcia. “I went to the CBP facility in Clint, Texas this weekend where horrible conditions have been taking place involving as many as 300 children. These boys and girls, some of them toddlers, were found naked, malnourished and dehydrated, even non-responsive under the very nose of federal agents! Just like this facility, there are others throughout the country where thousands of refugee children are being detained and God only knows the level of mistreatment they must be suffering,” added Garcia.
Commissioner Sanders gave no specific reason for his decision to step down July 5th and stated, “Although I will leave it to you to determine whether I was successful, I can unequivocally say that helping support he amazing men and women of CBP has been the most fulfilling and satisfying opportunity of my career.”
“These latest revelations are a symptom of a far deeper and deliberate neglect that this Administration is allowing to happen and we can longer trust the United States Government to do its job,” says Garcia. “This is why LULAC is calling on the UNHCR for the first time in modern history to intervene on U.S. soil on behalf of these defenseless children who are dying --- alone, frightened and confused over what’s being done to them. The thought of what they’re suffering brings us to tears of rage,” he added.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org