House committee votes not to record Democrat's claim that migrant deaths were 'intent
House committee votes not to record Democrat's claim that migrant deaths were 'intentional'
by Anna Giaritelli
| May 22, 2019 02:22 PM
The Democrat-run House Homeland Security Committee voted during a hearing Wednesday to strike from the record a party member's comment that the deaths and separations of migrant children were "intentional" moves by DHS.
The body voted 9-7 after a fiery debate between Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., Ranking Member Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., over the congresswoman's allegation that the witness, acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan, purposely created policies to hurt and kill children in the department's custody.
Underwood started her questioning of McAleenan with a set on whether family separations, which took place last April through June, had negative impacts of children. McAleenan said the questions were irrelevant because DHS did not plan to take up the practice in the future. She asked about the four migrant children who have died while in Border Patrol custody since October. A fifth child died in May, though it was a month after the child was released from Customs and Border Protection custody.
"They're happening because the crisis is exceeding the resources provided. That's why we've asked for more," he said, adding 100 certified medical professionals are working in two border cities that have seen the most arrivals of children and families.
"People keep dying, and so this is obviously more than a question about resources," Underwood rebutted. At this point, with five kids that have died, 5,000 that have been separated from families, I feel like, and evidence is really clear, this is intentional. It's intentional. It's a policy choice being made on purpose by this administration, and it's cruel and inhumane."
Others in the room broke out in chatter before she was done speaking. Rogers jumped in.
"That's an appalling accusation, and our men and women fight hard to protect people in our custody every single day. We've asked for this [sic] resources three weeks ago, and it hasn't been responded to by Congress. And we've asked for changes in authorities for the last three years that would have prevented this from happening," he said.
Rogers asked for a motion to take Underwood's comments out of the record, but Thompson denied his request and asked Underwood to clarify her comment.
"I said that this is more than a question of resources. Congress has been more than willing to provide resources and to work with you, Mr. Secretary, to address the secretary and humanitarian concerns. And at this point, with five children dead and 5,000 separated from their families, it's intentional. It's a policy choice being made on purpose by this administration. And it's cruel and inhumane," she said.
The 5,000 number is significantly higher than the 2,800 children a judge identified last summer as having been separated, though a government report said thousands more had been separated from their parents.
"Mr. Chairman, you cannot impugn the character of the witness by stating that he intentionally murders children. That is completely inappropriate, and her words should be taken down. She was very explicit," Rogers said.
"I did not say 'murder.' I said that five children have died as the result of a policy choice," she said. "He has stands by the policy decisions of this administration. That's what he said at the beginning of his testimony."
McAleenan jumped in and denied saying he endorsed family separations at the beginning of the hearing.
"And he said they stopped those detentions, they don't do those separations. He has said that repeatedly. You refuse to listen to him. That's not the point. You said he intentionally supported policies that caused the death of children. That is wrong. Your words need to be taken down," Rogers insisted.
Underwood pushed back, noting another person in custody died this week, while DHS was under McAleenan's leadership.
Rogers jumped in, "Because we can't get the resources to help them. That's what he's hear trying to get the money to stop this."
Thompson called for a vote, then said there would be no vote because he had decided to let her statement stay in the record. A member demanded a vote, and Thompson declared a short recess. One member asked Thompson deny Underwood the ability to vote on a matter than affected her, and he denied the request.
The committee, with a number of members absent, then voted 9-7 to take Underwood's comment down.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/n...re-intentional
