Statement on the Death of Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez

Carlos was a child. He was a son and a brother. He was a musician, athlete, and student. Carlos came to the United States seeking safety and a future filled with promise, but the immigration system failed this child in an unconscionable and inexcusable way. Carlos’s death from the flu would likely not have happened if Border Patrol had followed the procedures and policies dictated by law. Immigration laws and policies are not suggestions. They are vital safeguards in place to ensure the children in our nation’s custody are safe. The evidence in this case demands a fuller investigation and accountability for those who failed Carlos. Without that step, other children in U.S. custody remain in harm’s way within our own borders.