Government Watchdog: Separated Migrant Children Suffer Severe Trauma

Many migrant children separated from their parents by the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy experienced severe mental trauma, according to a new report by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General. Separated children “exhibited more fear, feelings of abandonment, and post-traumatic stress” than children who were not separated.

The Trump Administration continues to separate migrant children from their families at the southern border, claims the ACLU, despite a year-old court order forbidding the practice. There is an exception when parents pose a risk to their children, and Customs and Border Protection has abused that carve-out, separating nearly 1000 children from families over petty offenses or subjective and contrived reasons, says the ACLU in court filings. After CBP separates families, the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement becomes responsible for child welfare, hence the IG report.

More:

“‘Can’t feel my heart:’ IG says separated kids traumatized,” Colleen Long, Martha Mendoza, and Garance Burke, Associated Press

“Government watchdog details severe trauma suffered by separated children,” Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill

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Trump Administration Seeks Indefinite Detention of Migrant Children

In July U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee held that the federal government violated the 1997 Flores settlement by detaining immigrant children seeking asylum for more than 20 days. There are still 500 children in government-run shelters, so naturally the Trump Administration wants to change the rules and do an end-run around Flores. HHS and DHS submitted a Proposed Rule this morning that would allow the indefinite detention of child asylum seekers. “Indefinite” as in “maybe forever,” or until the kids grow up and are old enough to deport.

Other provisions of the new rule would allow children and families to be held in facilities that haven’t been approved for state or local licenses, give facilities “emergency” loopholes for not meeting standards of care, revoke legal protections for unaccompanied migrant children.

More:

“Trump Administration Moves to Sidestep Restrictions on Detaining Migrant Children,” Caitlin Dickerson, New York Times

“Trump seeks changes in landmark agreement limiting how long migrant children can be detained,” Victoria Kim, Los Angeles Times

“Don’t Let Migrant Kids Rot,” New York Times editorial

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Flash: Obamacare Girl FOUND!

Amy Robach of ABC News spoke with “Adriana,” the “Mona Lisa of Obamacare” whose photo mysteriously disappeared from the Healthcare.gov homepage:

“The smiling woman who was once the face of the Affordable Care Act’s website has come out of the shadows to stand up to the ‘cyberbullying’ she says she suffered after the law’s flawed kickoff.

Speaking exclusively to ABC News, Adriana, who asked that only her first name be used, said she was speaking out now to defend herself after weeks of enduring online lampooning.

‘They have nothing else to do but hide behind the computer. They’re cyberbullying,’ Adriana told ABC News’ Amy Robach.”

— “Exclusive: Obamacare’s Mystery Woman Says She Fell Victim to Cyberbullies,” Abby D. Phillip, ABC News

More:

“Mystery ‘Face’ Of Obamacare, A Colombian Immigrant, Says She’s Victim Of Cyberbullies,” Fox News Latino

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‘Obamacare Girl’ — Still Missing!

The Lady of Obamacare fled from the Healthcare.gov webpage late last month and has not been seen since. She’s more than a stock photo now; she’s a meme, the “Mona Lisa of Health Care.” Paparazzi keep watch for”Adriana” in the corridors of power, at fashionable parties, “Cadillac” health plan spas, and in smart nightclubs, without result. Adriana, where art thou?

Old Men in Skirts & Women’s Health

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is objecting to a recent HHS rulemaking which grants American women equal access to healthcare and directs health insurance companies to provide them with contraceptive services. Of course, America’s Roman Catholic bishops have their own sort of family planning; they are (presumably) celibate. Not so the females in their flock, two-thirds of whom use some form of contraception. The HHS regulation does not apply to employees of churches but to workers in the separate nonprofit corporations spun off by religious institutions. It has little to do with health reform, and everything to do with the rights of employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.