A government watchdog is warning of a potentially “violent” situation at one Border Patrol station on the U.S.-Mexico border where migrants are held in unsafe conditions. Even so, Homeland Security officials are not planning changes anytime soon.
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General released a report Friday that found “dangerous overcrowding” among adults being held at the El Paso Del Norte Processing Center in West Texas.
During an unannounced trip to the border May 7 to 8, Inspector General Office workers observed 900 people being held at a facility where the maximum capacity is 125 people.
Inspectors peered into cells and found 76 people in one fit for a dozen people. Another cell suitable for eight people held 41. A third cell with capacity for 35 was holding 155 people.
“Border Patrol agents told us some of the detainees had been held in standing-room-only conditions for days or weeks,” the inspector general report states.
CBP’s 2015 National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search standards state that “under no circumstances should the maximum occupancy rate, as set by the fire marshal, be exceeded.”
The report revealed that not only were people being held in overcrowded conditions, they were also being held far longer than Border Patrol policy states detainees can be held before being transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“According to Border Patrol’s custody logs, there were 756 detainees on site when we visited PDT on May 7, 2019. Of those, 502 detainees (66 percent) had been held at PDT for longer than 72 hours [the limit outlined in TEDS], with 33 detainees (4 percent) held there for more than two weeks,” the report states.
CBP said hygiene conditions have sunk because detainees do not have adequate access to showers and clean clothing. Some men and women had been in “soiled clothing for days or weeks.” Because of the overcrowded cells, some were standing on toilets, making it difficult or impossible to use those facilities.
“We are concerned that overcrowding and prolonged detention represent an immediate risk to the health and safety not just of the detainees, but also DHS agents and officers. Border Patrol management on site said there is a high incidence of illness among their staff,” the report states. “In addition, Border Patrol management on site said there is an ongoing concern that rising tensions among detainees could turn violent.”
An unspecified number of Border Patrol agents have opted to retire early while others were looking at leaving their jobs.
Agents at the station told the inspectors they called ICE on a daily basis hoping new beds would be available so that some detainees could be transferred out of the agency’s custody.
The El Paso Border Patrol sector is one of nine on the southern border. Since the start of fiscal 2019 in October, the region has seen the second-highest number of families illegally crossing: 98,052. That figure is up 1,816% from the same time the previous year.
The inspector general’s office said it informed acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan about its concerns and was unsatisfied with his department’s response. DHS said it is building a tent near the facility that will be able to hold 500 people by July 31.
“We observed conditions at the El Paso Del Norte Processing Center (PDT) Border Patrol facility that represent an immediate risk to the health and safety of detainees and DHS employees … Dangerous overcrowding among single adults in PDT requires immediate action,” inspectors wrote.
