A record number of unaccompanied migrant children are in the custody of the Border Patrol and beds in shelters are scarce, heightening fears of a new humanitarian crisis on the southern border.
More than 3,200 unaccompanied migrant children are being housed in Customs and Border Protection facilities, two sources confirmed. The New York Times, citing internal CBP documents, reported for the first time that the number of children detained “has tripled in the past two weeks”.
Almost half of the children – 1,400 – were detained beyond the legal limit of three days. CBP retention cells, sometimes known as “hieleras”, or ice boxes, are not designed for children. They are usually small concrete rooms with concrete or metal benches and no beds.
In addition, nearly 170 of the detained unaccompanied children are under the age of 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 increased to about 9,000.
Many of the children who arrived at the border initially immigrated during the Trump administration, but were quickly expelled under an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that aimed to protect US immigrants and residents of Covid-19. The Biden administration reversed the policy for unaccompanied children.
As the Biden government struggles with increasing crossings, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last week led a team of high-ranking officials to tour the detention facilities for migrants along the border. The White House said officials intended to inform President Joe Biden of his findings.
Julissa Reynoso, the first lady’s chief of staff, was part of the delegation.
“We spoke to many of the people involved, including children,” said Reynoso on Monday. “We are trying to manage this in an orderly manner, but very attentive to the human cost here and in light of the fact that we are talking about children. So, this is something that we are managing.”
