Fifty-nine Democrats led by Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva have urged Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell to step up protection for unaccompanied immigrant children who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, NBC News reported. In a letter sent Monday, the Democrats expressed concern about inadequate protection from discrimination and sexual assault of youths, most from Central America, who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border this summer and are in shelters awaiting deportation hearings. Lawmakers said reports continue to emerge of abuse and mistreatment of LGBT youth in facilities that HHS' Office of Refugee and Resettlement contracts with to house the children.
