House Democrats urged the Department of Homeland Security to provide flu vaccinations to illegal immigrants who are in federal custody while seeking clarification on whether the agency will vaccinate detainees who have been transferred to longer-term detention facilities.
“We write to inquire whether the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be reversing its stance on providing flu vaccinations to migrants, including children and family units, currently detained at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities, ahead of this year’s flu season,” Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Linda Sánchez asked acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf in a letter dated Wednesday. “In addition, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has indicated that flu vaccines are offered at initial intake. We ask that you confirm the policies and procedures that ICE follows.”
Democrats and left-leaning organizations last year unsuccessfully pushed for vaccination of immigrants who are arrested at the border before they are either transferred from CBP’s temporary holding stations to ICE centers for longer detention or released into the United States.
“More can and should be done to mitigate the health risks of the COVID-19 pandemic and influenza season,” the group wrote in its new letter. “Will DHS allow these children and families to be vaccinated, and protect themselves – and CBP personnel – against a preventable disease? … In order to protect DHS employees, their colleagues, families, and the wider community, it would make sense to also offer vaccination to the individuals with whom they come into contact at work.”
Six children who were in or had passed through CBP custody in 2019 died from the flu, prompting some disease experts to say more must be done to prevent the spread of the flu among illegal immigrants in the government’s care. However, it is unknown at what point the children picked up the flu or if a vaccine while in CBP care would have prevented the deaths.
Immigrants in federal custody are especially vulnerable to the virus and other infectious diseases because they have weakened immune systems from weeks or months of trekking to the border. Migrants travel on foot, bus, and train, and stay in hotels, government-provided spaces, and other places where they may be exposed to the flu on the way to the U.S.
In January, one of the world’s top infectious disease experts said the U.S. government had a responsibility to provide preventative care such as flu vaccines to migrants immediately after they have been taken into custody, but CBP has maintained this is not its responsibility.
“As a law enforcement agency, and due to the short term nature of CBP holding and logistical challenges, operating a vaccine program is not feasible,” CBP said in a statement. “Both ICE and HHS have comprehensive medical support services and can provide vaccinations as appropriate to those in their custody.”
ICE has provided more than 25,000 doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in the past amid outbreaks in its facilities.
More than 57,000 people in the U.S. died from the flu during the 2018-2019 winter flu season. The vaccine is typically successful at preventing 40%-60% of infections.
