Hispanic Democrats are calling on the Biden administration to investigate the state of Texas regarding alleged human rights violations occurring due to the arrest of migrant men on criminal trespassing charges. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, calling for federal intervention to stop the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) from intentionally separating migrant families, according to an article published by The Hill. The CHC alleges that Texas’ policy of detaining migrants for criminal trespassing has resulted in the separation of at least 26 families, raising concerns about human rights violations, prolonged detentions and inadequate legal advice.

The Texas administration, led by Gov. Greg Abbott, defends those measures, saying it is responding to the crisis at the border while awaiting more sweeping action from President Biden and the Congress to secure the border. The Texas government claims the arrests are aimed at preventing the separation of children from their mothers by arresting and holding people who have committed crimes in the state.

The publication also highlights those detained migrants face legal problems, such as prolonged detention and inadequate legal advice. Some migrants are told they can be detained for months or plead guilty and go out on bail, which can have negative implications on their immigration status.

The allegations of human rights violations are exacerbating tensions between the Abbott and Biden administrations. The Biden administration has filed lawsuits against Texas over buoys installed on the Rio Grande as part of Operation Lone Star, aimed at strengthening border security. While some lawmakers praise these efforts, others question the legality and humanity of the actions conducted by Texas.

The letter from CHC members calls for an investigation into how DPS detainees are being transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and highlights concerns about insufficient communication between separated mothers and children during this process, according to The Hill.