Quote:
government officials have told at least four immigrant women that to get their children back, they'll have to pay for their own DNA tests to prove that they're related:
...in some cases because authorities took documents from adults proving they are related to their children....The tests are being administered by a private contractor on behalf of the [HHS'] Office of Refugee Resettlement, which oversees the care and housing of children. HHS has refused to name the contractor, which may be a violation of federal law.
HHS replied by claiming that they provide DNA tests free of charge, but reports from both the director for the immigrant shelter where the women are staying and an immigration lawyer who works with the shelter contradict that. The women are reportedly being told to pay between $700 and $800.
This corresponds with other stories of the government demanding steep fees to release immigrant children from custody....A construction worker in Los Angeles, for example, tried to take in a 14-year-old relative taken from her mother when crossing the border. The girl would only be released into the custody of a family member—and only if that family member paid $1,800 to fly her and an escort from Houston.
I'm guessing exactly zero of the mothers have $700 cash to fork over to get their child back. And that's probably per child.
Also, lol @ 1800 for a one-way flight from Houston to LA. Is the kid getting flown on a private jet?
If you're locking infants in jail, someone should profit from it amirite?