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A government investigation into the 2019 death of Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, a Guatemalan teenager in Border Patrol custody, found he died of the flu in his cell after Border Patrol agents did not check on him. The report, obtained by ProPublica, also sheds more light on a detention system that has grappled with overcrowding and seen many immigrants fall ill. Hernandez had a 103-degree fever, and his nurse practitioner recommended that he be checked in two hours and taken to the emergency room if he did not improve. ProPublica
In other federal immigration news…
USCIS Revamps Mission Statement After Trump Removed Reference to “Nation of Immigrants”
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has renewed and shortened its mission statement, adding key words like “welcome” and “respect.” The last time it was changed was in 2018, when the Trump administration removed the words “nation of immigrants,” sparking criticism from immigrant rights proponents. The 2018 change indicated a turn toward stricter regulations, and emphasized “securing the homeland.” The American Immigration Lawyers Association had called the 2018 change an “insidious attempt by the Trump administration to diminish the valuable contributions that immigrants have made” to the U.S. CNN
Working Conditions for Border Patrol Agents Gets Bigger Focus
As the U.S. Border Patrol grapples with a surge in migration along the U.S.-Mexico border, the Biden administration is giving the agency’s working conditions more attention following several meetings with senior and junior officials. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who oversees the Border Patrol, outlined 19 initiatives to improve working conditions. He also committed to fight to prosecute more people accused of assaulting CBP officials. A slew of attacks have recently happened at the border as officers face smugglers, cartels, and drug organizations. AP News
National Butterfly Center Shutting Down After Immigration-Related Threats
In the face of polarizing conspiracy theories about illegal immigration, a butterfly sanctuary in Texas has announced it is shutting its doors until further notice because of security concerns and threats from supporters of former President Trump. The private center had also closed last month because of “credible threats.” People have circulated photos and messages claiming the center is helping smugglers bring migrants to the U.S. The butterfly center had filed a complaint to halt construction of the border wall, claiming it threatened the habitat of more than 200 species of butterflies. CBS News
With No Safety Net, Undocumented Parents Have Been Hit Hard By the Pandemic
U.S. families have faced a variety of difficulties due to the pandemic, from remote learning and being stuck with loved ones 24/7, to the anxiety of losing jobs and income. Alejandra, 33, and Alberto, 40, both undocumented immigrant parents, grappled with a different set of challenges. Despite the fact that their daughter is a U.S. citizen, they are ineligible for most federal aid that many people relied on to survive, such as unemployment insurance, stimulus payments, Medicaid and food stamps. Local organizations have help those excluded from benefits, but they say it isn’t enough. The Washington Post