"The decision was made over urgent objections from the government's own health and child welfare officials, who say both the facility and the region lack the specialized care the girls need. That's according to seven sources who work at the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which handles the custody and care of children who cross the border without a parent or legal guardian, or are separated from family by immigration authorities."
"Since late July, more than a dozen pregnant minors have been placed at the Texas facility, which is located in the small border city of San Benito. Some were as young as 13, and at least half of those taken in so far became pregnant as a result of rape, sources said. Their pregnancies are considered high risk by definition, particularly for the youngest girls."
The administration has been directing all pregnant unaccompanied minors apprehended nationwide into a single group shelter in San Benito, South Texas. Office of Refugee Resettlement officials raised urgent objections, saying the facility and regional health services lack specialized maternal and pediatric care for high-risk adolescent pregnancies. Since late July, more than a dozen pregnant minors, some as young as 13 and many victims of rape, have been placed at the Texas facility. Rank-and-file staff report alarm and sleeplessness over potential inadequate care. Agency workers declined to be named for fear of retaliation.
Read at Kqed
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]