Firestorm Sparked After Government Lawyer Argues Detained Migrant Children Aren’t Entitled To Toothbrushes, Soap Or Towels

The Washington Post: Migrant Detainees Aren't Entitled To Toothbrushes, Soap, Government Argues
The government went to federal court this week to argue that it shouldn’t be required to give detained migrant children toothbrushes, soap, towels, showers or even half a night’s sleep inside Border Patrol detention facilities. The position bewildered a panel of three judges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Tuesday, who questioned whether government lawyers sincerely believed they could describe the temporary detention facilities as “safe and sanitary” if children weren’t provided adequate toiletries and sleeping conditions. One circuit judge said it struck him as “inconceivable." (Flynn, 6/21)

The Associated Press: Detained Immigrant Children Aren't Guaranteed Soap, Toothbrushes, Trump Administration Says
Sarah Fabian, senior litigation counsel for the Department of Justice, told a three-judge panel at the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that the agreement doesn't list items that must be provided in border facilities. "There's fair reason to find those things may be part of safe and sanitary," she told the panel during an exchange over the conditions in facilities for immigrant children caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. (6/21)

Axios: Texas Republican Says Conditions In Migrant Detention Centers Are Worst He's Ever Seen
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.) said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday that the conditions of migrant detention centers in his state are the "worst" he's ever seen them, and called on Congress to pass humanitarian aid to "take care of these children." (Perano, 6/23)

NBC News: Pence Says 'Of Course' Migrant Children Should Have Access To Soap, Toothbrushes
Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday that "of course" the Trump administration believes migrant children being held at detention facilities should have access to soap, toothbrushes and other basic amenities, comments that come just days after the administration went to court to argue against having to provide the children with such things. "Of course we do," Pence told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "My point is it's all a part of the appropriations process. Congress needs to provide additional support to deal with the crisis at our southern border." (Smith, 6/23)

USA Today: Trump Again Falsely Says Obama Started Family Separation Policy
When questioned by interviewers about migrant children detained at the southern border, President Donald Trump has tried to steer the blame toward the previous administration, saying former President Barack Obama initiated the policy of separating those children from their caregivers, even though fact checkers have consistently found that claim to be false. During an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," which aired Sunday, Trump told host Chuck Todd that he "inherited separation from President Obama" and that "I was the one that ended it." (Cummings, 6/23)

And in other related news —

The New York Times: ‘Stop Repeating History’: Plan To Keep Migrant Children At Former Internment Camp Draws Outrage
For Satsuki Ina, who was born in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II, the news that the United States would detain undocumented migrant children at this Army base in Oklahoma felt like an unwelcome wallop from the past. The base, Fort Sill, Okla., once held 700 Japanese-Americans who lived in tents in desertlike heat, surrounded by barbed wire and guards. They were among the more than 100,000 residents of Japanese ancestry who were rounded up by the government during the war and placed in detention camps around the country. (Fenwick, 6/22)

The Washington Post: Viewing Chain-Link 'Cages' At U.S. Border, Central American Officials Pledge More Immigration Cooperation
The chain-link fence holding pens of the Border Patrol’s largest processing center was stuffed with more than 2,000 people when the first ladies of the Northern Triangle arrived here Thursday for a visit. The converted former warehouse that migrants and some U.S. agents deride as the “dog pound” for its “cages” had been set up as an overflow holding site during the Obama administration, and it is far beyond its capacity now. At the entrance, the delegation of Central American officials and U.S. Homeland Security leaders were warned about respiratory illnesses inside, but they turned down offers for masks and entered. (Miroff, 6/21)

The Baltimore Sun: 'People Are Really, Really Afraid': Mass-Deportation Threat Strikes Fear Into Baltimore Immigrants
The Rev. Bruce Lewandowski was unlocking the doors of Sacred Heart of Mary Church for the first services early Sunday morning when he noticed a family of immigrants in a van outside. The pastor greeted them: “You're here early for church.” Lewandowski said they replied, “‘We stayed here all night. We slept in our van because we don't know where to go.’” (Campbell, 6/23)

Kaiser Health News: Non-English Speakers Would Be Disadvantaged By Trump Administration Plan To Ease Language Rules On Health Notices
A federal regulation demands that certain health care organizations provide patients who have limited English skills a written notice of free translation services. But the Trump administration wants to ease those regulations and also no longer require that directions be given to patients on how they can report discrimination they experience.The changes could save $3.16 billion over five years for the health care industry, according to the administration. (Heredia Rodriguez, 6/24)