Number of sick kids soars at border; tuberculosis, flu, infections land migrants in hospitals

Border authorities are referring 50 people a day for urgent medical care, including tuberculosis, flu and even pregnant women about to give birth, a top official said Monday, saying it’s unlike anything they’ve ever seen before. Most of those in need of care are children, and a staggering 28 percent are under age 5, having been dragged along for the trip by parents who in many cases are hoping to use the children as a shield against speedy deportation from the U.S. The numbers were released after a full review was done of all children in the custody of Customs and Border Protection in the wake of two illegal-immigrant children who died in U.S. hospitals in December. CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said most of those needing help were ill when they arrived at the border, and some appear to have made the initial decision to leave even while ailing. “Many were ill before they departed their homes,” the commissioner said. “We’re talking about cases of pneumonia, tuberculosis, parasites. These are not things that developed urgently in a matter of days.”...MORE

This may explain the surge of illegal migrants showing up at the NM port of entry at Antelope Wells:

Agents have spotted a new trend in the traffic from Central America to the U.S., with smuggling organizations using commercial buses to get people through the journey in less than a week. That’s far faster than the 25 to 30 days it takes most migrants who walk or take a mixture of transportation to get from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras through Mexico and to the border. Mr. McAleenan said the commercial buses are also delivering migrants to parts of the border such as western Texas and New Mexico that have traditionally been less afflicted by the flow of immigrants crossing into the U.S. illegally.The faster trip also makes it easier for sick people to come, and provides “confidence for parents to bring younger children” along as well, he said.  

Congress and the courts, of course, play their role in this mess as the DC Deep Thinkers deep six a rational response 

The boy’s mother, back in Guatemala, told Reuters news agency they had been told by neighbors that if he brought the child, the father would get more lenient treatment by U.S. authorities and would be quickly released into the U.S. where he could disappear into the shadows, live in the U.S. illegally and find work. She was referring to a 2015 court ruling in the Flores case, which saw an Obama-appointed judge issue a decision that forces the government either to separate children from their parents — a practice that was tried earlier this year, to much criticism — or to release both parents and children within about 20 days. That ruling was appealed by the Obama administration, but was mostly upheld by an appeals court. Homeland Security officials say families released rarely show up for deportations. About one-third of them cut off ankle bracelets almost immediately after they’re released, authorities say. “It’s no secret that we are seeing an increase of family units and unaccompanied aliens minors as a direct result of the Ninth Circuit’s Flores Settlement Agreement and the 2008 [Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act] — these are clear gaps in U.S. law that smugglers and traffickers are taking advantage of,” said Katie Waldman, a Homeland Security spokeswoman.

 NM Senators Udall and Heinrich have responded by calling for Congressional oversight hearings into the death of one child and an investigation into the death of another child while in US custody.They raise questions about the Trump administrations' "ability to adequately allocate resources, appropriately respond to the humanitarian crisis happening at our southern borders and the agency’s ability to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future." They also say, "We remain deeply concerned about the administration’s policies and practices that may be causing asylum seekers to attempt a dangerous journey of crossing between the ports of entry."

Are they also expressing deep concern and calling for hearings on who is organizing and paying for the busing of illegal migrants to the NM port of entry? The role and funding of the US group Puebo Sin Fronteras in encouraging the migrants rejection of Mexico's offer of asylum and continuing on to the US border? Of how Acts of Congress and court decisions may have helped in creating the current immigration and humanitarian crises that led to the tragic deaths of these two children? To what extent are these migrants, who are being released in the US, a threat to the health and well being of our children and families? Apparently not.