Resolution: F-20-5: BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER

[Valerie Lile]

1  WHEREAS, The environment of the detention centers plays a key role in the health and well-
2  being of the immigrant children, also worth noting a percentage of these facilities have been
3  found to lack proper necessities that contribute to the basic wellbeing of a children under the care
4  of the United States Government at the US-Mexico Border¹; and
5  WHEREAS, They lack proper bedding, forcing children to sleep on the cold cement floors with
6  some lack proper bathing facilities or open toilets, leading to major hygiene issues¹; and
7  WHEREAS, Many recent videos inside detention centers show children shivering due to
8  extremely cold temperatures indoors and not being provided with appropriate warm clothing, and
9  at the time of processing, the centers may perform limited physical exams and take medical
10  histories, but they are done by non-medical personnel (AAP) ¹; and
11  WHEREAS, In general, due to the short-term nature of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)
12  holding and the complexities of operating vaccination programs, neither CBP nor its medical
13  contractors administer vaccinations to those in our custody,” a Customs and Border Protection
14  spokeswoman said in an emailed statement²; and

15 WHEREAS, Administration has not to secure adequate funding increases within relevant
16 agencies, put in place a system that can hire and train a workforce needed to administer such a
17 policy change, or build infrastructure to house detainees in safe and humane conditions³; and

18 WHEREAS, “The cost of vaccinating all detainees for [the 2018-19] flu season would have
19 been $1,000,258. That number is 0.002% of the overall budget of DHS, and 0.007% of the
20 budget for CBP.” ³; and

21  WHEREAS, Studies show that “most preschool children displayed marked developmental delay
22  and regression, attachment disorders and emotional and/or behavioral disturbances” (Dudley,
23  2012), while older children have demonstrated having higher prevalence of PTSD, anxiety,
24  depression, and suicidal ideation⁴; and
25  WHEREAS, Since there is evidence supporting that immigrant children in detention centers are
26  at higher risk for having mental health disorders, there should be a policy stating that psychiatric
27  evaluations and treatment should be given to these children at each stage of their immigration
28  process⁵; and
29  WHEREAS, In accordance with the Osteopathic Philosophy and our code of ethics: Section 13.
30  A physician shall respect the law. When necessary a physician shall attempt to help to formulate
31  the law by all proper means in order to improve patient care and public health. This gives us the
32  right to stand up to laws we feel as though are putting the public health in danger; Now, therefore
33  be it

1  RESOLVED, the Student Osteopathic Medical Association recognizes the disparities taking
2  place in detention centers as it relates to children; and be it further
3  RESOLVED; that SOMA shall support the adoption of policies that are put it place to ensure
4  adequate health care, vaccination, and preventative care as it relates to children in detention
5  centers; and, be it further
6  RESOLVED; that SOMA advocate to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) to support
7  policies that encompass child safety at detention centers that abide by the recommendation set
8  forth by CBP.

Explanatory Statement

There is a large percentage of children immigrating to the United States, who were born in Central American countries such as: Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. In many cases, children are fleeing gangs, recruitment from military or paramilitary organizations, or would like to be reunited with a parent who lives in the United States. If children do immigrate to the United States after avoiding several obstacles, they are then detained in ICE facilities where they are monitored as if they were prisoners. After repeated adverse events while traveling and being forcibly moved around by our immigration system, children are at higher risk for developing mental health disorders. Also it is worth noting that these children are being punished for the actions that they had no control over. It is the suggestion of the authors of this policy that as an organization, SOMA supports the recommendations that CBP sets and abides by the strict guidelines to ensure the basic minimal safety for children in detention centers.

References

1. Julie M. Linton, Marsha Griffin, Alan J. Shapiro, COUNCIL ON COMMUNITY PEDIATRICS; Pediatrics May 2017, 139 (5) e20170483; DOI: 1542/peds.2017-0483
2. Bursztynsky, Jessica. “The US Won’t Provide Flu Vaccines to Migrant Families at Border Detention Camps.” CNBC, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2019, cnbc.com/2019/08/20/the-us-wont-vaccinate-migrant-children-against-the-flu-at-border-camps.html.
3. Hudak, John, and Christine Stenglein. “The Moral and Policy Failures of Immigration; Detainee Vaccination Policy.” Brookings, Brookings, 26 Nov. 2019, brookings.edu/research/the-moral-and-policy-failures-of-immigration-detainee-vaccination-policy/.
4. Baily, C. R. W.; Henderson, S. W.; Ricks, A. S.; Taub, A. R.; Verdeli, H. The Psychosocial Context and Mental Health Needs of Unaccompanied Children in United States Immigration Proceedings. Graduate Student Journal of Psychology 2011, 13, 4–11.
5. Dudley, M.; Steel, Z.; Mares, S.; Newman, L. Children and Young People in Immigration Detention. Current Opinion in Psychiatry 2012, 25 (4), 285–292

Submitted by:

Kristen Erwin, OMS III – Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – VA Campus
Vandana Chaudhary, OMS II – Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – VA Campus
Curtis McInnis Jr, OMS II – Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – VA Campus

Action Taken: [Leave Blank. Will be Approved by the House of Delegates or Not Approved.]
Date: [Leave Blank. Date submitted to National Vice President and the National Office.]
Effective Time Period: Ongoing

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