1/ On this week's episode, we take you inside government-funded shelters for migrant children, where staff are calling police for minor incidents like fights or damaged property.
The calls result in severe consequences for vulnerable kids. revealnews.org/podcast/minor-…
The calls result in severe consequences for vulnerable kids. revealnews.org/podcast/minor-…
2/ The new investigation by @aurabogado & @lauracmorel found that shelters have turned over at least 84 children to local law enforcement since 2014. revealnews.org/article/im-goi…
3/ Among the children was a 16-year-old boy from Honduras. Staff at a @SouthwestKey shelter called 911 to report that he'd broken some bins and bed frames.
Bodycam video from a @BexarCoSheriff deputy shows the boy was tased for 35 seconds.
Bodycam video from a @BexarCoSheriff deputy shows the boy was tased for 35 seconds.
https://twitter.com/reveal/status/1402341421382717444
4/ As a result of the reporting, the deputy has been put on administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation. revealnews.org/article/texas-…
5/ Rep. @JoaquinCastrotx is now demanding an investigation into the child’s tasing by the Inspector General of @HHSGov.
“We’ve talked a lot in this country about over-policing... this is clearly an example of over-policing with respect to asylum-seeking youth.”
“We’ve talked a lot in this country about over-policing... this is clearly an example of over-policing with respect to asylum-seeking youth.”
6/ We found that children, once arrested, often get charged as adults. That’s because in Texas, where many arrests happened, 17-year olds automatically enter the adult criminal justice system.
7/ Take the case of a 17-year-old held at a Brownsville shelter. In 2018, he was accused of grabbing another boy for a few seconds.
The boys’ interaction happened around noon, but shelter staff didn’t call 911 until three hours later. The teen was arrested for assault.
The boys’ interaction happened around noon, but shelter staff didn’t call 911 until three hours later. The teen was arrested for assault.
8/ Records we obtained show that he pleaded guilty and spent about three months in a county jail. Then ICE picked him up.
In August 2019, an immigration judge ordered him deported to Honduras.
In August 2019, an immigration judge ordered him deported to Honduras.
9/ @SouthwestKey did not answer our questions about the boys’ cases. And @HHSGov, which runs the shelter system, declined to comment.
But experts we talked to agreed: Shelter staff should be equipped to de-escalate situations like this without involving police.
But experts we talked to agreed: Shelter staff should be equipped to de-escalate situations like this without involving police.
10/ To get updates to this story and more of our award-winning immigration coverage, sign up for our newsletter: revealnews.org/newsletter
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