Reps Ramirez, Garcia Amplify ACLU Calls for DHS to Terminate Contract with Private Company Accused of Negligent Migrant Care

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) and Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) released a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas citing the American Civil Liberties Union’s recommendation to immediately terminate the contract with Loyal Source Government Services (Loyal Source) after reports of wrongdoing and mistreatment of migrants in detention facilities. Loyal Source is a Florida-based corporation that has contracts with the DHS to provide medical care to noncitizens at the southern U.S. border.

In the letter, the members of Congress highlight that Loyal Source’s alleged pattern of inadequate staffing and negligent medical care appears to have contributed to the tragic death of eight-year-old Anadith Reyes Alvarez on May 17, 2023, at a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) detention facility in Texas. According to reports, Anadith was suffering serious flu symptoms, and a fever of 104.9 degrees. Loyal Source medical staff failed to review her medical history, denied her access to a physician, and refused both emergency medical transport and care. 

Members of Congress wrote: “In light of these failings, we want to raise the recommendations made to your agency by the American Civil Liberties Union, which has called on the agency to:

1. Immediately terminate its blanket purchase agreement with Loyal Source Government Services (“Loyal Source”) and secure a new vendor under a contract that incorporates measurable, enforceable standards for the provision of medical care;
2. rapidly implement and enforce binding medical care standards and custody  protocols to ensure the protection and rapid release of migrants encountered by or in CBP’s custody;
3. ensure that contract medical providers are subject to rigorous oversight and quality assurance enforcement mechanisms; and
4. ensure that medical care in CBP custody promptly identifies medically vulnerable people, and ensure effective and efficient processing of CBP custody.”

The congressional effort comes after coverage by The Washington Post and whistleblower reports that allege significant wrongdoing by Loyal Source, “including chronic staff shortages, excessive travel expenses, and error-plagued record-keeping.” Whistleblowers allege a failure by the CBP to hold Loyal Source accountable for these violations.

“We recognize that CBP has faced longstanding challenges in the provision of medical care at the border, under difficult circumstances. However, as Members of Congress who care deeply for the well-being of migrants in custody, we have deep concerns, given its history, whether Loyal Source can continue to be trusted as a partner,” concluded the Members of Congress. 

The letter was also signed by Representatives Danny K. Davis (IL–07), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). 

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.