One thing that struck me @propublica devastating story that's important for accountability: This is very different tone from Sanders than at the time of his resignation which CBP insisted was apart from widening scandal over conditions in temporary holding bit.ly/2s0pLrO
@propublica At the time, he and other officials were saying the poor conditions and holding migrants longer than was allowed were Congress's fault, or the fault of migrants themselves.
W/ @LindseyGrahamSC Sanders said needed more money & backed changing rules so lone Central American minors could be held indefinitely or only apply for asylum at home. “Children should not have to sleep on the ground under Mylar blankets. This is the USA." lat.ms/38hV6XJ
But children didn't have to be sleeping on the ground under Mylar blankets, in @CBP custody. CBP was forcing them to do so. When I asked him this directly, Sanders denied his agency was responsible.
As @latimes & others reported, backup esp of Central American UACs in CBP temporary holding was *direct and intentional result of Trump administration policy decisions* - read wapo.st/2qxa9f2 - They knew deaths like that of Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez would occur.
So was Sanders lied to by rank-&-file CBP about circumstances of death? Did he lie? Why only now are he & leaders part responsible? “I was part of that system at a very high level, and Carlos’ death will follow me for the rest of my life.”
Every case like this further erodes public trust. I fear answer will be less transparency & accountability, not more. But for @propublica persevering despite the obstruction, the public never would've known. Thanks for the reaffirmation to keep hitting our heads against that wall
