Jayapal Statement on CBP Order Revoking the Rights of Pregnant Women to Access Water, Infants to have Diapers

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) memo revoking protections for the most vulnerable people in its custody.  

“Every day, I think that we have reached the apex of cruelty this administration can inflict on immigrants, and yet it still continues to grow. Now we are learning that CBP has issued an internal memo eliminating four policies that help to protect the most vulnerable people in detention — including pregnant women, infants, and the elderly. These policies simply require basic necessities to be provided — like water for pregnant women and diapers and formula for babies. These policies were necessary in the first place to ensure that CBP treated immigrants like humans, after refusing to give soap or toothbrushes to immigrants during the first Trump administration. 

“Now, CBP’s revocation memo indicates that these policies are ‘misaligned with current Agency guidance and immigration enforcement priorities,” indicating that cruelty—rather than basic humanity—are the only key priorities of this Administration. That is unacceptable.

“We’ve seen what happens when CBP doesn’t have safeguards in place – two children under 10 years old died on Trump’s watch. The Administration’s callous termination of these lifesaving measures will put kids in harm’s way. I have no doubt that this step from the Trump administration will not only inflict unnecessary trauma on already vulnerable people who are seeking a better life in America, but it will cost lives.”

Issues: Immigration