Dozens of children being held in Arizona are claiming the poor treatment of migrants extends beyond Texas.
NBC News obtained dozens of accounts of abuse and mistreatment documented by government case workers about the conditions inside a Yuma facility. One 15-year-old girl from Honduras said one border agent put his hands inside her bra, pulling down her underwear and groping her during what was supposed to be a routine pat down.
A 16-year-old Guatemalan boy claimed that when he and others complained about the taste of the food and water they were given, agents took away their sleeping mats. In nearly 30 accounts they described being denied phone calls, not being offered a shower, sleeping on concrete or outside, and feeling hungry. Many kids said dinner was served after 9 p.m., which meant they were asleep during the opportunity to eat.
All the children who gave statements had been held at the facility longer than the 72 hours permitted by law. The accounts of the children were collected between April and last month.
The Department of Homeland Security is investigating allegations and notes “The allegations do not align with common practice at our facilities and will be fully investigated. It’s important to note that the allegation of sexual assault is already under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General."
Source:NBC News