New Democrat Coalition Statement on House Passage of Rep. Ruiz’s Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act
Today, the House of Representatives passed Rep. Raul Ruiz’s H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Custody Act, which would establish basic humanitarian standards of care for individuals in CBP custody. Immigrants are people coming to U.S. in search of a better life, many of whom cross the border outside of ports of entry because of insurmountable wait times, and even those who cross legally can be detained. Last week, the New Democrat Coalition endorsed this bill.
“The crisis at the border has shown that the federal government is often failing to protect the health, safety, and dignity of the individuals in its custody,” said New Democrat Coalition Chair Derek Kilmer. “This bill would set minimum medical care standards for migrants in CBP custody at the border in a way that is aligned with our American values of treating all individuals humanely. New Dems were proud to support this bill authored by our colleague Raul Ruiz and we urge the Senate to act swiftly to move this bill to the President’s desk.”
Congressman Ruiz is an emergency medicine physician, public health expert, and humanitarian aid specialist. In 2010, he was a first responder to the Haitian earthquake, where he served as the medical director of the largest camp of internally displaced persons in Port-au-Prince.
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