Crimes and Courts

Government moves migrant kids after AP exposes bad treatment

Published

6 years ago

June 24, 2019

The U.S. government has removed most of the children from a remote Border Patrol station in Texas following reports that more than 300 children were detained there, caring for each other with inadequate food, water and sanitation.

Just 30 children remained at the facility near El Paso Monday, said Rep. Veronica Escobar after her office was briefed on the situation by an official with Customs and Border Protection.

Attorneys who visited the Border Patrol station in Clint, Texas, last week said older children were trying to take care of infants and toddlers, The Associated Press first reported Thursday. They described a 4-year-old with matted hair who had gone without a shower for days, and hungry, inconsolable children struggling to soothe one another. Some had been locked for three weeks inside the facility, where 15 children were sick with the flu and another 10 were in medical quarantine.

“How is it possible that you both were unaware of the inhumane conditions for children, especially tender-age children at the Clint Station?” asked Escobar in a letter sent Friday to U.S. Customs and Border Protection acting commissioner John Sanders and U.S. Border Patrol chief Carla Provost.

She asked to be informed by the end of this week what steps they’re taking to end “these humanitarian abuses.”

Lawmakers from both parties decried the situation last week.

Border Patrol officials have not responded to AP’s questions about the conditions at the Clint facility, but in an emailed statement Monday they said: “Our short-term holding facilities were not designed to hold vulnerable populations and we urgently need additional humanitarian funding to manage this crisis.”

Although it’s unclear where all the children held at Clint have been moved, Escobar said some were sent to another facility on the north side of El Paso called Border Patrol Station 1. Escobar said it’s a temporary site with roll-out mattresses, showers, medical facilities and air conditioning.

But Clara Long, an attorney who interviewed children at Border Patrol Station 1 last week, said conditions were not necessarily better there.

“One boy I spoke with said his family didn’t get mattresses or blankets for the first two nights and he and his mom came down with a fever,” said Long, a senior researcher with Human Rights Watch. “He said there were no toothbrushes, and it was very, very cold.”

Vice President Mike Pence, asked about the unsafe, unsanitary conditions for the children on Meet The Press on Sunday, said “it’s totally unacceptable” adding that he hopes Congress will allocate more resources to border security.

Long and a group of lawyers inspected the facilities because they are involved in the Flores settlement, a Clinton-era legal agreement that governs detention conditions for migrant children and families. The lawyers negotiated access to the facility with officials and say Border Patrol knew the dates of their visit three weeks in advance.

Government rules call for children to be held by the Border Patrol in their short-term stations for no longer than 72 hours before they are transferred to the custody of Health and Human Services, which houses migrant youth in facilities around the country through its Office of Refugee Resettlement. Customs and Border Protection referred AP’s questions Sunday to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which did not immediately respond.

Crimes and Courts

Orange County Sheriff: Teen Arrested After Fellow Student Over School Altercation

Published

2 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

Willie David

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – On Thursday, October 9, Orange County deputies responded to a shooting at Vogt-Meloon Park on West Oak Ridge Road. The incident left 16-year-old Pinien Dalmacy dead and 15-year-old Jacori Redding facing charges that could change his life forever. Both were sophomores at Oak Ridge High School, with bright futures now tragically derailed.

Altercation Began at School

According to witnesses, the two teens had a confrontation earlier in the day on campus. Redding reportedly bumped into Dalmacy in the hallway. When Dalmacy asked him to apologize, Redding refused. The disagreement escalated, and both agreed to meet after school to fight at Vogt-Meloon Park.

Tragic Shooting at the Park

Once at the basketball court, the argument turned deadly. Deputies say Redding shot Dalmacy during the altercation. After the shooting, Redding ran back to Oak Ridge High School. School Resource Officer Deputy Nelson Rodriguez acted swiftly, coordinating with school officials to secure the suspect in the cafeteria. Deputies later found the firearm in Redding’s bag.

Sheriff Mina’s Statement

“My heart aches for Pinyon’s family, who are grieving this unimaginable loss,” said Orange County Sheriff John Mina. “And I’m angry that something as small as bumping into someone in the halls of a high school can result in a shooting death.”

Investigation and Community Appeal

Jacori Redding has been arrested, and a juvenile custody order was issued for manslaughter with a firearm and possession of a firearm on school property.
Detectives believe several witnesses were present during the shooting and that videos may exist. Authorities are asking anyone with information or footage to contact investigators at ocsoinfo@ocsofl.com.

Central Florida News

State Attorney Monique Worrell Responds to Court’s Denial of Bond for Former Deputy in Fatal Shooting Case

Published

2 months ago

September 5, 2025

Willie David

File - State Attorney Monique Worrell | Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) – State Attorney Monique Worrell issued a statement following the court’s decision to deny bond for Anthony Shea, a former deputy charged in connection with a fatal shooting.

Court’s Decision Reflects Seriousness of Charges
“The Court’s decision today to deny bond for Anthony Shea reflects the seriousness of the charges he faces,” Worrell said. Shea remains in custody as legal proceedings move forward in a case that has drawn significant public and law enforcement attention.

Honoring the Victim’s Life and Service
“Beyond the legal proceedings, this case is about honoring the life of a woman who dedicated herself to protecting others,” Worrell added. “This was a tragic loss of life that has deeply impacted the law enforcement community, as well as our circuit.”

Commitment to Justice
Worrell emphasized her office’s ongoing commitment to ensuring justice is served. “We continue to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the victim during this painful time. Our office remains steadfast in ensuring that her service, her sacrifice, and her memory are met with the justice they deserve.”

____________________________________________________________

J Willie David, III | News@FloridaNationalNews.com

Central Florida News

Deputies: Home and SUV Smashed by Heavy Machinery in Apparent Act of Revenge

Published

3 months ago

July 27, 2025

Willie David

CLERMONT, Fla. (FNN) – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shocking case of property destruction in Clermont, where a suspect reportedly used heavy machinery to demolish part of a home and an SUV—then left behind a profanity-laced message on the side of the house.

Deputies responded to the scene near Pine Island and Montevista Roads around 7 a.m. Friday, where they found a home with multiple large holes in its structure and debris scattered across the property. A nearby SUV had its roof crushed and windows shattered, consistent with damage from heavy equipment, possibly an excavator.

One side of the home featured a message scrawled in large letters, including a person’s name followed by the phrase: “You [expletive] with the wrong girl.”

“It is heartbreaking to see a residence vandalized this way,” said Stephanie Earley, spokesperson for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. “We are actively investigating to identify the individual responsible and bring them to justice.”

Authorities confirmed no injuries occurred and that no machinery was found at the scene upon their arrival. The motive appears personal in nature, but the case remains under active investigation.