Groups allege abuse of immigrant kids at US border
In this May 29, 2014 file photo, Maria Eva Casco, left, and her son Christian Casco of El Salvador, sit at at the Greyhound bus terminal, Thursday, May 29, 2014 in Phoenix. AP
SAN DIEGO, California — A coalition of advocacy groups says it has documented more than 100 allegations of mistreatment of unaccompanied immigrant children arrested by U.S. border authorities.
The groups filed a complaint Wednesday with the Department of Homeland Security that says more than 80 percent received inadequate food and water, about half were denied medical car: Cantor stepping downe and about one of every four was physically abused.
The Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project and three other organizations say they documented 116 cases in interviews with children who were in Customs and Border Protection custody. The interviews occurred from around March to May.
The complaint comes amid a surge of unaccompanied children from Central America crossing into Texas. Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
