Menstrual pad ration triggers suit

The lack of sanitary napkins that caused detained menstruating migrant teens to stain their underwear and pants highlighted the alleged list of abuses against young detainees cited in a new lawsuit against the U.S. Homeland Security.

The lawsuit recently filed by 19 states led by California Governor Gavin Newsom (D)criticized President Donald Trump’s policies on immigration and family separation.

Supported by investigative findings from the detainees themselves, the suit accuses the Department of Homeland Security of violating the Flores settlement, a 1997 agreement which limits the amount of time the government can detain immigrant children and sets guidelines for safe and sanitary conditions in detention centers, including the provision of food, water and medical care to detainees.

Based on the investigation conducted by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, the detained children were living in extremely cramped quarters, were denied medical care, were not given enough basic necessities such as toothbrushes and soap, were being put in cages as punishment and were only given one sanitary pad a day while on their periods such that they were often left to sit in soiled underwear and pants.

The testimonies were taken from 28 children ages 12 to 17 who were mostly detainees at the U.S. Border Patrol last year, according to reports.