U.S. authorities: There’s an illegal migrant health crisis at the border

U.S. authorities: There’s an illegal migrant health crisis at the border
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are calling for medical help from the CDC, Coast Guard, and Pentagon to screen illegal immigrants, and they’ve asked American and Mexican disease specialists to investigate the surge of sick migrants caught at the border, after another illegal immigrant child died in U.S. custody. None of those steps will solve the illegal alien health crisis that few people are talking about.

Per Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen:

Our system has been pushed to a breaking point by those who seek open borders. Smugglers, traffickers, and their own parents put these minors at risk by embarking on the dangerous and arduous journey north. This crisis is exacerbated by the increase in persons who are entering our custody suffering from severe respiratory illnesses or exhibit some other illness upon apprehension.  Given the remote locations of their illegal crossing and the lack of resources, it is even more difficult for our personnel to be first responders.

A DHS official told reporters that “literally dozens” of sick migrants are being transported to hospitals across the border each day, and that growing numbers of children showing illness are in border patrol custody.  Given their young age, children are most susceptible to disease. Anyone who has been a teacher or a parent knows that young children can be like little petri dishes when it comes to some illnesses.

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In reaction to the growing illness problem, especially with kids, the CBP announced that it conducted secondary medical checks on all children in CBP care and custody, with a focus on children under age 10.  But it’s unsure how that will help, because most of the illegals are still in  Mexico.

The illegal aliens In Tijuana are living in unsanitary conditions, packed close together. If one person sneezes the germs spread to many. Added on top of all that, it’s the beginning of the flu season, and it is doubtful the migrants have had their flu shots. Therefore, when they cross the border – illegally or legally – they may be spreading illness into America.

Who is to blame for the problem? Not CBP. According to Secretary Nielsen, the border agents are being overwhelmed. (Emphasis added.)

Our system has been pushed to a breaking point by those who seek open borders. Smugglers, traffickers, and their own parents put these minors at risk by embarking on the dangerous and arduous journey north. This crisis is exacerbated by the increase in persons who are entering our custody suffering from severe respiratory illnesses or exhibit some other illness upon apprehension.  Given the remote locations of their illegal crossing and the lack of resources, it is even more difficult for our personnel to be first responders.

We at DHS are committed to continuing to assist those in need – in the past year alone the Border Patrol assisted more than 4,300 people in distress along the border – that’s a 20 percent increase in rescues from the year before.

To put this in perspective, there were six migrant deaths while in CBP custody during FY 2018 – none who were children.  In fact, it has been more than a decade since CBP has had a child pass away in their custody.  It is now clear that migrants, particularly children, are increasingly facing medical challenges and harboring illness caused by their long and dangerous journey.

Democrats, of course, are looking to place blame. Soon to be House minority leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said in a statement,  “It is incumbent upon Congress to ask serious questions about what happened and who bears responsibility.”

Officials told the Washington Times, “that the problem lay south of the border. Smugglers are encouraging a surge of migrants — particularly families with young children — to make the trip from Central America to the U.S. The migrants are convinced they can take advantage of lax policies to gain an illegal foothold in the U.S.”

You see,  Rep. Hoyer, the answer is obvious; just look in the mirror. As long as the Democrats reject the policies that would discourage illegal aliens from trying to sneak into the country, there will be illness, and possibly death, at the border. If the Democrats truly want to stop children and adults from getting ill as they come into the country, they need to end programs such as “catch and release” and build a wall, fence, or whatever you want to call it.  Congress needs to fund a barrier that will discourage people from sneaking into America. And, yes, fences and walls work.

Our DHS and CBP can only do so much:

To those in Congress who continue to refuse to take action to address the loopholes that cause a flood of humanity to travel north and place children at risk, I once again call on you to do your job, protect vulnerable populations, secure our borders, and provide the men and women of DHS the authorities and resources we need to address this crisis. Please put politics aside, we have a common cause – let’s work together to protect family units and unaccompanied alien children. It’s a mission we share.

Cross-posted at The Lid.

Jeff Dunetz

Jeff Dunetz

Jeff Dunetz is editor and publisher of the The Lid, and a weekly political columnist for the Jewish Star and TruthRevolt. He has also contributed to Breitbart.com, HotAir, and PJ Media’s Tattler.

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