DHS investigating 15-year-old migrant’s allegation of sexual assault by border agent

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it will investigate after a report that a 15-year-old girl in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody alleged that she was sexually assaulted by an agent.

A CBP spokesperson told NBC News on Tuesday that the agency’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) was aware of the allegation and would investigate the matter.

{mosads}”U.S. Customs and Border Protection treats those in our custody with dignity and respect and provides multiple avenues to report any allegations of misconduct,” the spokesperson said.

“The allegations do not align with common practice at our facilities and will be fully investigated. It’s important to note that the allegation of sexual assault is already under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General,” they added.

NBC News on Tuesday reported the girl’s allegations as well as other claims of mistreatment from dozens of immigrant children being held. The girl, who remained unidentified due to her age, told government case workers that she was stripped down to her underwear and groped while other children and agents were present, and that the offending agent made remarks to other officers in English and laughed during the assault, according to incident reports obtained by NBC.

“Minor reports officer asked her to lift her shirt up to bra line and then he put his hands inside her bra and touched her breast,” read an incident report obtained by the network. “Minor reported she felt embarrassed as the office[r] was speaking in English to other officers and laughing.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, told NBC that the girl’s allegation should be “fully investigated” and sharply criticized President Trump for claiming that the facilities faced no problems.

“These allegations are very concerning and need to be fully investigated. The president has denied any problems with these detention centers — despite multiple confirmed reports to the contrary — but it is the Trump administration’s own policies that have contributed to this humanitarian crisis and this lack of accountability,” Cummings said.