Representative Peter King (R-NY), sporting a half-smirk, defended the deaths of two children under the care of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by comparing their deaths to those that may occur in housing projects.
“These are the only two children that have died (while in ICE custody)… considering what does happen in housing projects I think ICE has an excellent record,” King told Fox News.
King was attempting to draw a parallel between the health and well-being of people coming up to the border and those in public housing.
“I think anytime you have conditions like this, where people are coming up, many of whom are in bad health to begin with, they’re living in terrible conditions, they come up in a caravan or whatever, that this can happen,” said King. “I know in New York City, in housing projects you hear of kids dying. Unfortunately, people living in those conditions, that can happen.”
Public Housing is funded by several agencies at the federal, state, and local level, and these projects have a notorious reputation for poor quality and low upkeep. The right also often demonizes them for being high in crime.
King was arguing that people shouldn’t be “piling on” current Department of Homeland Security head Kirstjen Nielsen after her visit to facilities that are at the center of the controversy.
Nielsen has also been trying to deflect blame, blaming the parents for making the trek.
“This is just a very sad example of the dangers of this journey. This family chose to cross illegally,” said Nielsen.
In the most recent child death, an eight-year-old from Guatemala, was diagnosed with a cold while in custody. several hours later, the child was dead.
Images via screen capture from video source.