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Congressman Ruiz, CHC Leaders Call for Investigation into the Mistreatment of Menstruating Teens in CBP Custody

September 13, 2019

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) author of the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Task Force Chairman, wrote a letter with other members of the CHC calling on the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General to launch an investigation into the treatment of migrant teens in Customs and Border Protection. According to a lawsuit filed by State Attorneys General, menstruating teens were visibly bleeding through their clothing, denied showers and soap, and restricted to one sanitary pad per day.

The letter was also signed by CHC Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and CHC Immigration Task Force Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38).

"Not providing young women and girls feminine hygiene products and denying them proper sanitation is degrading and cruel," Dr. Ruiz said. "That is why I am writing a letter with fellow leaders of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to call for an investigation to hold CBP accountable. This inhumane treatment must end, which is why I wrote the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act, to ensure that the treatment of children, women, and families is consistent with our American values and the principles of basic human dignity."

You can read the full text of the letter at this link.

Issues:Immigration