A record number of unaccompanied migrant children are under the supervision of border patrols and shelter beds are scarce, raising fears of a new humanitarian crisis on the southern border.
Two sources housed more than 3,200 unaccompanied migrant children in customs and border protection facilities. The New York Times, citing internal CBP documents, first reported that the number of detained children “has tripled in the past two weeks.”
Nearly half of the children – 1,400 – were detained outside the legal limit of three days. The CBP retention cells, sometimes known as ‘heel race’, or refrigerators, are not designed for children. These are usually small concrete rooms with concrete or metal benches and no beds.
In addition, nearly 170 of the unaccompanied children detained are under 13, a source said.
Government data reviewed by NBC News shows that the total number of unaccompanied migrant children who crossed the border in February rose to about 9,000.
Many of the children who arrive at the border initially immigrated during the Trump administration, but were quickly expelled under a command from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is intended to help immigrants and residents of the U.S. from Covid-19 to protect. The government of Biden has reversed the policy for unaccompanied children.
While the Biden government is struggling with the increase in intersections, Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mayorkas last week led a team of senior administration officials to pull tourist equipment along the border. The White House said officials were planning to brief President Joe Biden on their findings.
Julissa Reynoso, chief of staff of the first lady, was part of the delegation.
“We did talk to many of those involved, including children,” Reynoso said Monday. “We try to manage it in an orderly fashion, but note the human cost here and in light of the fact that we’re talking about children. So it’s something we manage.
