Senators request migrant-abuse inquiry

WASHINGTON — The bipartisan leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee asked federal investigators late Monday to examine allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse of migrants held at government detention facilities, saying that the mistreatment may have been occurring since 2014 or earlier.

“These allegations of abuse are extremely disturbing and must be addressed,” Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., wrote. “This is not a partisan issue as reporting suggests many have been occurring for years. Immigrant families and children kept in federal custody deserve to be treated with basic human dignity and respect and should never be subjected to these forms of abuse.”

The letter says the allegations suggest “a long-term pattern” of mistreatment and is based on articles by The Associated Press and other news organizations.

The senators want the inspectors general for the departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services to investigate the abuse allegations immediately and to release any previous investigations. They also want the investigators to study “the adequacy of policies and procedures” used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a branch of Homeland Security, and by Health and Human Services to prevent abuse.