5/22/2014
Scabies could spread through overcrowding at border patrol station
Scabies could spread through overcrowding at border patrol station
Overcrowding at the McAllen border patrol station may be contributing to the spread of scabies among detained immigrants present in the U.S. illegally.
Border patrol is not releasing numbers, but Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples toured the station today.
He said there are more than 1,000 people detained, and that is more than three times the capacity.
Staples and visiting agriculture commissioners from other states said they are concerned with the overcrowding at the McAllen station.
They are also concerned with the number of immigrants with scabies.
“They are having some real health problems and it’s a cost to the American people, and that’s why securing our border and reforming our failed immigration system can make those problems go away,” Staples said.
Border Patrol union spokesperson Chris Cabrera said about 10 to 25 percent of the immigrants detained at the McAllen station at any given time have scabies, and with overcrowding there is a real possibility of it spreading.
"We are having a lot of people coming in with the disease and it seems to be spreading, not just in the McAllen station but throughout the valley and to some of our agents,” Cabrera said.
Cabrera says he is also concerned with the skin disease spreading to the public because many don’t shows signs of having the skin disease until two weeks after catching it.
We did request information from border patrol and the Department of Homeland Security on Monday, but we are still waiting for a response.
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