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. LOF-
GREN, Mr. NADLER, Mr. LUJA´N, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. CISNEROS, Mr. 
VARGAS, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. MUCARSEL-POW-
ELL, 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 deter-
mined 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 individ-
uals 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, en-
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dowed with the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and pur-
suit 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 Home-
land 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 med-
ical care, mental health services, and humanitarian as-
sistance; 
Whereas lack of access to adequate medical screenings, emer-
gency 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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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] fam-
ily, including food, clothing, housing and medical care’’: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the United States must provide a basic 
standard of humanitarian care to all individuals in 
its custody; and 
(2) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
should— 
(A) provide a standardized, adequate 
health assessment by a trained and certified 
health professional for each individual in its 
care; 
(B) have the medical equipment necessary 
to respond to medical emergencies quickly and 
efficaciously, including equipment necessary to 
treat children and the elderly; 
(C) have sufficient capacity to transport 
individuals in its custody to the appropriate 
medical facility in a timely manner; 
(D) provide for adequate water, nutrition, 
hygiene, and sanitation needs of individuals in 
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temporary CBP custody, consistent with a life 
of dignity; 
(E) provide living accommodations for in-
dividuals in temporary CBP custody that en-
sure such facilities are humane and appropriate 
for single adults, families, and unaccompanied 
children, and should have contingency plans for 
responding to surges in individuals crossing the 
border; and 
(F) provide appropriate training in human-
itarian care for Federal and contract personnel 
who interact with individuals in CBP custody. 
Æ 
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