MEDIA ADVISORY: Congressional Hispanic Caucus Marks Anniversary of Deaths of Migrant Children in US Custody and Calls for CBP to Provide Flu Vaccines and Meaningful Medical Care
WASHINGTON—– On Tuesday, December 10th, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus will hold a press conference marking the anniversary of the deaths of two migrant children and call for CBP to provide flu vaccines and substantive medical care to migrants in their custody.
This Sunday, December 8th, marks one year since the death of Jakelin Caal Maquin in CBP custody of a bacterial infection. Later this month, December 25th, marks the one year anniversary of the death of Felipe Alonzo Gomez in CBP custody of the flu. In the last week, ProPublica published an investigation on the death of Carlos Hernández Vásquez revealing that CBP lied to the American people about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Doctors from Harvard and Johns Hopkins recently urged investigations into migrant detention conditions, which they believe contributes to the spreading of deadly diseases and the flu. In November, doctors called on CBP to begin providing immigrants in custody with flu vaccines and offered free flu vaccines to the agency. CBP has refused the vaccines and continues to refuse to vaccinate migrants in their custody, even as migrants experience prolonged detention, horrific conditions, and illness in their care.
Speakers will be available for a brief Q&A at the conclusion of the press conference.
WHO:
Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-7), First Vice Chair of the Hispanic Caucus
Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Second-Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Congressman Ben Ray Luján (NM-3), Assistant Speaker
Congressman Raul Ruiz, MD (CA-36), Chair of the CHC Task Force on Health Care and Mental Health
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-12)
Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-3)
Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29)
Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35)
Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24)
Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49)
Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-3)
Congressman Gil Cisneros (CA-39)
WHEN:
Tuesday, December 10th, 2019 at 9:30 am
WHERE:
Studio A, House Radio-TV Gallery, US Capitol
RSVP:
Please RSVP to elena.pino@mail.house.gov.
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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.