Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ People are buying diapers, wipes, soaps and toys to donate to children in overcrowded migrant detention centers.

But they're being turned away. bit.ly/2X29n8J

2/ News reports have been circulating of facilities having drinking water that tastes like bleach and sick children without enough clothing. bit.ly/2X29n8J

3/ An influx of migrants along the southwest border has stretched facilities beyond capacity.

Some lawyers who have visited them are calling them unsafe and unsanitary conditions. bit.ly/2X29n8J

4/ So, people want to donate diapers and toys to children at Border Patrol facilities in Texas.

They're being turned away. bit.ly/2X29n8J

5/ On Sunday, Austin Savage and his friends spent $340 on diapers, wipes, soaps and toys for migrant children being held in a Border Patrol facility.

When the group arrived, they found that the lobby was closed.

The Border Patrol agents ignored them. bit.ly/2X29n8J

6/ Before they left, the group spotted a discarded plastic bag near the lobby door holding toothpaste and soap that had a note attached to it:

“I heard y’all need soap + toothpaste for kids.”

bit.ly/2X29n8J

7/ Gabriel Acuña, who grew up in Clint and attempted to visit the facility in his hometown Sunday morning, called the situation “heartbreaking” and said he felt “powerless.”

“For God’s sake, they’re kids, man.” bit.ly/2X29n8J

8/ Last week, an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice argued in court that the government shouldn’t be required to give migrant children inside Border Patrol detention facilities toothbrushes, soap, towels or showers. bit.ly/2X29n8J

9/ 4 toddlers were reportedly hospitalized after lawyers visited a facility & found them severely ill & not receiving medical attention, according to the Huffington Post.

They were under 3.

According to the lawyers, one was “completely unresponsive.”

texastribune.org/2019/06/24/Tex…

10/ We spoke to one lawyer about the conditions inside an immigrant detention center in South Texas. Here’s what she told us.

"Basic hygiene just doesn't exist there."

texastribune.org/2019/06/23/imm…

11/ Immigrants were living in overcrowded spaces and sometimes were forced to sleep outside a building where the water "tastes like bleach."

"It was so bad that the mothers would save any bottled water they could get and use that to mix the baby formula."
texastribune.org/2019/06/23/imm…

12/ Democratic state Rep. @TerryCanales40 of Edinburg tweeted this weekend that he wrote to Border Patrol asking for a list of acceptable items to donate.

He said officials told his office by email they do not accept donations. bit.ly/2X29n8J

13/ “Those children feel like the world has given up on them, and we have to fight for them.” — @TerryCanales40

Read more here: bit.ly/2X29n8J