IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 17 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the provision of a basic standard 

of humanitarian care to all individuals in U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection custody. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 11, 2019 

Mr. RUIZ (for himself, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. NADLER, Mr. LUJA ́N, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. CISNEROS, Mr. 

VARGAS, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL, Mr. SIRES, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Mr. SAN NICOLAS, 

Mr. SABLAN, Ms. ESCOBAR, Mr. SOTO, Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, Mr. 

ESPAILLAT, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, Mr. CORREA, Mrs. TORRES of California, 

and Mr. GALLEGO) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the 

Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the provision 

of a basic standard of humanitarian care to all individuals in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody. 

Whereas two children, Jakelin Caal Maquin and Felipe 

Gomez Alonzo, recently died while in the custody of the 

Federal Government; 

Whereas the Declaration of Independence sets forth that all 

individuals in the United States are created equal, enVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:05 Feb 12, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC17.IH HC17

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•HCON 17 IH 

dowed with the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness; 

Whereas the United States was founded as a nation of men 

and women seeking freedom, refuge, and prosperity for 

themselves and their descendants; 

Whereas the United States recognizes the inherent human 

dignity of all individuals; 

Whereas the core values held by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

include integrity, vigilance, and respect; 

Whereas U.S. Customs and Border Protection acknowledged 

that U.S. Border Patrol stations were built over 30 years 

ago for single adult males, not the humanitarian needs 

of families, and need additional resources to provide medical care, mental health services, and humanitarian assistance; 

Whereas lack of access to adequate medical screenings, emergency medical care, shelter, sanitation, water supply, and 

food poses serious risks to individual and public health; 

Whereas the United States is one of the original signatories 

of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, 

which states that ‘‘recognition of the inherent dignity and 

of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the 

human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and 

peace in the world’’; 

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states 

that, ‘‘Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, 

in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of 

universal respect for and observance of human rights and 

fundamental freedoms.’’; and 


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•HCON 17 IH 

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says 

that everyone, without distinction of any kind, ‘‘has the 

right to a standard of living adequate for the health and 

well-being of himself [or herself] and of his [or her] family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care’’: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that— 

3 (1) the United States must provide a basic 

4 standard of humanitarian care to all individuals in 

5 its custody; and 

6 (2) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 

7 should— 

8 (A) provide a standardized, adequate 

9 health assessment by a trained and certified 

10 health professional for each individual in its 

11 care; 

12 (B) have the medical equipment necessary 

13 to respond to medical emergencies quickly and 

14 efficaciously, including equipment necessary to 

15 treat children and the elderly; 

16 (C) have sufficient capacity to transport 

17 individuals in its custody to the appropriate 

18 medical facility in a timely manner; 

19 (D) provide for adequate water, nutrition, 

20 hygiene, and sanitation needs of individuals in 


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•HCON 17 IH 

1 temporary CBP custody, consistent with a life 

2 of dignity; 

3 (E) provide living accommodations for in4 dividuals in temporary CBP custody that en5 sure such facilities are humane and appropriate 

6 for single adults, families, and unaccompanied 

7 children, and should have contingency plans for 

8 responding to surges in individuals crossing the 

9 border; and 

10 (F) provide appropriate training in human11 itarian care for Federal and contract personnel 

12 who interact with individuals in CBP custody. 

Æ 


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