Report: 80 Sick Detained Migrants Go to Hospital Daily

An estimated 80 sick illegal immigrants in federal custody are taken to the hospital for medical care each day, the Washington Examiner reported Tuesday.

Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, incorrectly told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that Border Patrol agents and Office of Field Operations officers are transporting "800" people daily. 

A CBP spokeswoman later told the Examiner that Morgan "meant to say 80 people per day on average to the hospital," after misspeaking during the hearing.

Morgan said the need for transportation, drivers, and law enforcement to stay with detainees while they are at a medical facility has affected the Department of Homeland Security agency's ability to patrol between the ports of entry.

"We are looking at $63 million dollars for continued medical assets and high risk support across the southwest border," Morgan told a Senate panel.

DHS has diverted $45 million in operational funds to go toward medical costs over the past five years, the Examiner has reported, citing data it had obtained.

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