Editorial: Investigate allegations; kids safety top priority
Express-News Editorial Board
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San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, County Judge Nelson Wolff, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores are among local officials who toured Freeman Coliseum. What they saw runs counter to the disturbing allegations made Wednedsay by Gov. Greg Abbott.William Luther /Staff photogapher
Gov. Greg Abbott leveled serious and explosive allegations Wednesday evening of child abuse and poor conditions at a makeshift shelter for unaccompanied minors at Freeman Coliseum.
These allegations must be investigated, but Abbott also has a duty to provide more detail given their seriousness and the intense politicization around all things immigration.
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HHS investigating abuse allegations at Texas migrant shelter, White House says
The US Department of Health and Human Services is investigating allegations of abuse at a site sheltering unaccompanied minors in Texas, the White House said Thursday, after Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott alleged the state had received tips that children inside the facility were being abused and called for it to be shut down.
“The Biden Administration takes the safety and well-being of children in its care very seriously,” a White House spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. “Currently we see no basis for Governor Abbott’s call to shut down the San Antonio Freeman Coliseum as an intake site, however, his claims will be looked into and investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services.”
Apr. 8, 2021 Catholic News Service As the U.S. took in almost 19,000 migrant children, labeled unaccompanied minors, in March, faith-based organizations such as Catholic Charities throughout the U.S. have been doing their part to help. In Texas, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio set up over 2,000 cots for their guests at the Freeman Coliseum to welcome and care for unaccompanied migrant children, the organization said March 30 on its website. Staff as well as volunteers from local churches have assembled hygiene kits of toothpaste and soap to give to minors who have been allowed into the country at its southern border with Mexico and are waiting to be reunited with family or who will soon go live with sponsors.
Gov. Greg Abbott, center, at a press conference at Bexar County s Freeman Coliseum.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has leveled a serious allegation against the federal Department of Health and Human Services: that child abuse is occurring in an emergency care facility at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio.
The accusation made in a Tuesday-evening press conference marks an elevation in the governor’s public campaign against the Biden administration’s border policy.
Abbott has repeatedly criticized the administration’s decision to allow unaccompanied children into the country, calling it “open border policies” even though families and adults are still turned away, in violation of federal and international asylum law.