Report: ICE crashed van full of migrant moms, then pretended like it didn't happen

A new report by the Texas Observer claims ICE repeatedly denied the existence of a crash in which multiple migrant mothers being transported were injured.

See images that show emotional reunification of migrant families. less A new report by the Texas Observer claims ICE repeatedly denied the existence of a crash in which multiple migrant mothers being transported were injured.

See images that show emotional reunification of ... more Photo: Brian Van Der Brug/LA Times Via Getty Images Photo: Brian Van Der Brug/LA Times Via Getty Images Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Report: ICE crashed van full of migrant moms, then pretended like it didn't happen 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

A new report by the Texas Observer claims Immigration and Customs Enforcement repeatedly denied the existence of a crash that injured multiple migrant moms being transported last month.

In the July 18 crash, a pickup truck T-boned an ICE-contracted van with eight Central American mothers who were separated from their children, according to interviews with the passengers and a police report obtained by the Observer.

The mothers told the Observer they suffered from headaches, dizziness and nausea after being slammed into the seat in front of them.

Two days after the crash, an ICE spokesperson told the Observer, "Your sources misinformed you. There was no crash."

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ICE repeatedly denied the crash took place and ignored requests for information for three weeks, the Observer said.

After the Observer obtained concrete proof of the crash, the federal agency eventually issued a statement calling the accident a "fender bender not [a] vehicle crash"— a statement that ran counter to details in the police report that said the ICE van suffered "disabling damage" and was towed because of the crash.

It's not the first time an immigrant has been injured while in ICE custody. Last week, a child died after contracting a disease from another detainee, according to an immigration lawyer's claim.

As of last week, 572 children remain separated from their parents, almost three-fourths of which have been deported.

Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93



