THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS RE-OPENING A SECOND TRUMP-ERA BORDER FACILITY, THIS ONE IN CARRIZO SPRINGS, TEXAS, TO HOUSE UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT CHILDREN. A SIGNIFICANT POLICY SHIFT FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
THEY’RE CALLED ‘INFLUX CARE FACILITIES.’ AND THEY’VE BEEN USED IN EMERGENCY CASES AS EARLY AS 20-19.
DETAINING UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN A SUBJECT OF ONGOING CONTROVERSY.
PRESIDENT BIDEN RAN ON OVERTURNING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION ACTIONS, INCLUDING THE FACILITIES TO HOUSE MIGRANT CHILDREN,.
[BIDEN 2021]
“I’m not making a new law. I’m eliminating bad policy. What I’m doing is taking on issues that 99% of them that the last President of the United States issued executive orders that I thought were counterproductive to our security, counterproductive to who we are as a country. Particularly in the area of immigration.”
(ANCHOR)
HOWEVER BIDEN’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TEMPORARILY REOPENED the INFLUX CARE FACILITY IN CARRIZO SPRINGS IN FEBRUARY 2021.
THE FACILITY COULD BEGIN SEEING UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AS EARLY AS TODAY.
BOTH THE TRUMP AND BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE DEALT WITH GROWING NUMBERS OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AT THE BORDER AND HAVE FACED BACKLASH OVER POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF LEGAL PROTECTIONS.
ALLEGATIONS SURFACED THAT CHILDREN WERE BEING DETAINED IN ADULT FACILITIES UNDER UNSAFE AND UNSANITARY CONDITIONS, DESCRIBED AS JUVENILE PRISONS.
FOR EXAMPLE – JENNIFER COSTELLO, THE 20-19 ACTING D-H-S INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID CHILDREN AT THREE OF THE FIVE BORDER PATROL FACILITIES VISITED HAD NO ACCESS TO SHOWERS.
JENNIFER COSTELLO, FORMER DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL, DHS
“WE ARE GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONDITIONS WE SEE IN THE C-B-P FACILITIES AT THE BORDER. AND WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IT COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL SECURITY INCIDENTS AND OBVIOUSLY HIGH RISK OF DISEASE.”
[ANCHOR ON CAM]
WHILE THE CARRIZO SPRINGS SITE HOUSED MIGRANT TEENAGERS IN 20-21, IT WILL REPORTEDLY FEATURE EXTRA FACILITIES AND HIGHER STANDARDS OF CARE IN THIS NEW PHASE.