WH finally caves on pix
The Biden administration on Tuesday finally released photos of the heart-wrenching conditions migrant children are being forced to live in at US detention centers — but only after intense pressure amid the crisis.
US Customs and Border Protection put out the disturbing snapshots, which show scores of kids who crossed the Mexico border without an adult, in detention, crammed together on floor mats in plastic-shrouded rooms.
Another picture reveals a toddler lying alone on a floor mat inside a row of pink and purple kiddie gates, looking up at a man.
“CBP continues to transfer unaccompanied minors to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as quickly and efficiently as possible after they are apprehended on the Southwest Border,’’ the agency said in a statement.
“In order to protect the health and safety of our workforce and those in our care, we continue to discourage external visitors in our facilities; however, CBP is working to balance the need for public transparency and accountability.”
The migration avalanche includes about 15,000 children without parents — and President Biden is refusing to send any of the kids immediately back, creating logistical chaos.
The makeshift detention facility in Donna, Texas, where the CBP photos were taken is the same center where distressing snaps surfaced for the first time Monday, courtesy of Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas).
While US law requires unaccompanied children to be moved from CPB to HHS care within 72 hours, the border crisis has reportedly left some of the minors languishing in the makeshift facilities for up to 10 days.