Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Elect Castro Statement on Reports of Child Death in Border Patrol Custody

WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, this evening released the following statement:

“I am devastated by reports of a seven-year-old girl who had been taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection who died due to dehydration and exhaustion. I will be asking the Inspector General and Congress to conduct a full investigation into the conditions and circumstances that led to her death.

“We can and must do better as a nation. A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report found that the Trump Administration’s policy of limiting asylum seekers at ports of entry forces families to cross the border in between ports of entry, this includes making dangerous treks across the desert in search of safety, and a better life. This is a humanitarian crisis and we have a moral obligation to ensure these vulnerable families can safely seek asylum, which is legal under immigration and international law, at our borders.” 

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