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BREAKING: @sdACLU + @JFSSD submit a complaint to @DHSOIG on behalf of a Guatemalan woman apprehended by #Border Patrol while in labor *and forced to give birth in custody while standing up.* Full complaint here: https://www.aclusandiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020-04-07-OIG-Cmplt-Final_Redacted.pdf (A THREAD)
This woman, whom we are calling "Ana" to protect her privacy, fled Guatemala with her husband and two children and attempted to seek #asylum in the United States.
#Border Patrol apprehended "Ana" (who was more than 8 months pregnant) and her family in mid-February 2020. "Ana" was ill with a severe cough and was experiencing severe pain in her womb (which she later understood to be labor).
Although "Ana"'s husband pleaded with the #Border Patrol to provide his wife with immediate medical attention, instead the agency transported the family to a nearby Border Patrol station.
Roughly 30 minutes after arrival at the station, in the midst of a coughing fit, "Ana" partially delivered her baby into her pants, holding on to a tall garbage can for support.
LET THE HORROR OF THAT SINK IN.
Ungloved agents reached for "Ana" and her newborn child.
Only after this traumatic and unassisted birth were "Ana" and her newborn finally taken to a nearby hospital.
Even after hospitalization, the Border Patrol *returned "Ana" to detention,* *refused to let her shower for three days after giving birth,* and *detained her with her young children, even though she had the flu.*
Oh, and @CBP issued a press release LYING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-19/guatemalan-woman-gives-birth-at-border-patrol-office-after-being-arrested-crossing-border
This horrifying story is just one of many accounts of the terrible suffering inflicted on vulnerable people in @CBP custody. We have been documenting these accounts for YEARS. When will the abuse stop?
Beginning in January, the @sdACLU and the @ACLU_BRC have submitted a series of complaints to @DHSOIG regarding @CBP's heinous mistreatment of individuals the agency detains. The series is here: https://www.aclusandiego.org/legal/blp/cbp-mistreatment-of-detained-people/
Our first complaint, submitted January 22, 2020, addressed the mistreatment of #pregnant people: https://www.aclusandiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-01-22-OIG-Complaint-1-FINAL-1.pdf. We submitted an addendum in early March: https://www.aclusandiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-03-04-OIG-compl-preg-persons-addendum-appendix-FINAL.pdf
To date, @DHSOIG has not provided any substantive response on our complaints.
Today, @SenBlumenthal led a group of 13 senators calling on @DHSOIG to immediately investigate continued disturbing reports that pregnant detainees are severely mistreated while in @CBP custody. The letter is here: https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/download/04082020_-dhs-ig-cbp-pregnant-persons-mistreatment
