ACLU Condemns Customs and Border Protection’s Revocation of Protections for Pregnant People

WASHINGTON — Reports yesterday emerged that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) quietly revoked several Biden-era policies designed to protect vulnerable people in its custody, including pregnant people, infants, the elderly, and people with serious medical conditions. These policies included the provision of water and diapers to babies in CBP care and guidance to expedite the release to care of people in medically dangerous circumstances. The decision was outlined in an internal memo signed by acting CBP commissioner Pete Flores earlier this week, where he stated that the policies were “misaligned with the agency’s current guidance and immigration enforcement priorities.”

The ACLU, alongside the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties and partners, have repeatedly raised concerns with the lack of medical care and appalling conditions that young children were subjected to while in border patrol facilities. After a woman was forced to give birth in a border patrol station while holding onto a garbage can, the ACLU advocated for the expedited release to medical care of people who are pregnant, postpartum, or nursing. The ACLU also pressed for CBP to provide adequate care for those in its custody in light of multiple tragedies, including the death of 8-year-old Anadith Reyes who died after a week in custody without necessary medical attention.

In response to this news, Sarah Mehta, deputy director of policy and government affairs for immigration at the ACLU, had the following reaction:

“The rescission of these policies — outlining the most basic care that should be provided to the most vulnerable people — is reflective of the cruelty that anchors the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. CBP has a track record of providing inadequate medical care to young children and pregnant people in its custody, resulting in multiple preventable tragedies. Instead of making meaningful reforms to protect medically vulnerable people in its custody, it is doubling down on its utter disregard for families and children.

“Though the agency attempted to quietly revoke protections, our members of Congress must not allow this move to go unnoticed.”

This press release is available here: https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-condemns-customs-and-border-protections-revocation-of-protections-for-pregnant-people