ACLU Lawsuit Uncovers Extensive Alleged Abuse of Immigrant Minors in Custody

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has released a report detailing widespread and severe alleged abuse of immigrant children by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents between 2009 and 2014. Among 30,000 pages of documents obtained in an open records lawsuit are details of minors reportedly being beaten, threatened, sexually abused, and denied food and medical care by border agents.

The mistreatment described in the new report allegedly took place under the Obama administration, and the ACLU stated that any resulting complaints to the Department of Homeland Security were largely dismissed. During the time frame in question, tens of thousands of minors arrived in the U.S., mostly from Central America, and in many cases were trying to escape life-threatening conditions in their countries of origin. CPB has called the allegations baseless, and states that the ACLU’s report overlooks improvements the agency has made with regard to oversight protocols since 2014.

Additional Reading

ACLU alleges that immigrant minors were mistreated in custody during Obama years, The Washington Post, May 23, 2018

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