'Horrifying': Democrats slam dire conditions at US-Mexico border detention facilities

One post contained a photoshopped image of Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being sexually assaulted by President Trump.

The report inspired outrage from Democrats in Congress. Judy Chu (D-CA), who also visited the facility and said a border patrol agent told one woman she met, "If you want water, just drink from a toilet".

Other Trump cabinet officials leading the charge include Mark Morgan, a head of the CBP under Obama who has been returned to that position by Trump, who once claimed he could tell just by looking in the eyes of an immigrant child if they would become a gang member; Thomas Homan, the former acting head of ICE and current Fox News commentator who still presents himself as a representative of the administration; and Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, who has pushed for the repeal of the Constitutional right of birthright citizenship.

U.S. politicians, including Ocasio-Cortez, who visited two Texas centres on Monday described "horrifying" conditions. "They said 'officers are under stress & act out sometimes.' No accountability".

Underneath the Anzalduas International Bridge, authorities have set up a sort of makeshift processing center, with a tent, water coolers and agents at the area called "Rincon Village", a popular area for migrants to cross when they're looking to turn themselves in to agents.

Border Patrol officials have said previously they are being swamped by the numbers of refugees crossing from Mexico into the United States.

In May, CBP reported encountering over 144,000 migrants at the border, a record high and almost three times higher than reported in the same month a year ago. They're drinking potable water from the sink attached to the toilet.

"We remain very concerned about the conditions in which people are being kept", she said.

"We've had dozens of congressional staffers and delegations come through our facilities", Perez added.

US Border Patrol agents complain of being understaffed and overwhelmed with the surge of families at the US-Mexico border.

Eighty-eight adult males held in a cell with a maximum capacity of 41, some signaling prolonged detention to OIG Staff, observed by the Office of Inspector General, June 12, 2019, at Border Patrol's Fort Brown Station.

ProPublica says the agents reacted to the death of a 16-year-old boy who died in Border Patrol custody by saying: "Oh, well".

Ocasio-Cortez hasn't responded to Lahren's jibes, but has continued to speak out about the "inhumane behavior" she says she experienced.

ProPublica received screen captures of recent discussions in the group and was able to link the participants to what appeared to be Facebook profiles of Border Patrol agents, including an El Paso-based supervisor and an Eagle Pass-based agent, according to its report.

"These posts are completely inappropriate and contrary to the honour and integrity I see - and expect - from our agents day in and day out", US Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost said in a statement. "Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable".

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, House Judiciary Committee and other Democrats were in El Paso and Clint, Texas, to investigate several facilities used to detain immigrants, following reports of horrid conditions and mistreatment of immigrants there.

"This moment captures what it's like for women in CBP custody to share a cramped cell - some held for 50 days - for them to be denied showers for up to 15 days and life-saving medication", he said in a tweet which accompanied one video. The facility also had no soft mats for children to sleep on or any clean clothing. "These are clearly agents who are desensitized to the point of being risky to migrants and their co-workers".

In screenshots, one group member can be seen commenting on an article about Reps.