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bdamomma

(63,803 posts) Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:10 PM Jul 2018

Government Told Immigrant Parents to Pay for DNA Tests to Get Kids Back, Advocate Says

https://www.thedailybeast.com/government-told-immigrant-parents-to-pay-for-dna-tests-to-be-reunited-with-kids-advocate?ref=home

bastards

snip of article:

U.S. government officials recently told four immigrant women that they must pay for DNA tests in order to be reunited with their children, according to the shelter that housed the women.

The tests are the latest ad hoc effort by the Trump administration to reunite families it had separated—in some cases because authorities took documents from adults proving they are related to their children. The tests are being administered by a private contractor on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, which oversees the care and housing of children. HHS has refused to name the contractor, which may be a violation of federal law.

Those who care about this are going to Go Fund Me, to receive funds to unite the children with their parents.

6 replies

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Government Told Immigrant Parents to Pay for DNA Tests to Get Kids Back, Advocate Says (Original Post) bdamomma Jul 2018 OP

Bet you a Trump ally has a monopoly on DNA testing Johnny2X2X Jul 2018 #1

I would imagine that the unnamed contractor is charging at multiples of the going rate dhol82 Jul 2018 #2

Adding Insult to Injury - It's The Trump Way MineralMan Jul 2018 #3

weren't a couple companies KT2000 Jul 2018 #4

Plus the airfare to be reunited with their kids, I hear whathehell Jul 2018 #5

I thought 23andme offered to donate enough DNA testing kits for all detained parents and children? lapfog_1 Jul 2018 #6

Johnny2X2X

(18,973 posts)

1. Bet you a Trump ally has a monopoly on DNA testing

Reply to bdamomma (Original post)

Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:13 PM

Jul 2018

I'd bet you anything Trump is making money off these DNA tests.

dhol82

(9,352 posts)

2. I would imagine that the unnamed contractor is charging at multiples of the going rate

Reply to bdamomma (Original post)

Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:14 PM

Jul 2018

You can get a DNA test for under $100 retail. If some trump flunky has the contract it would probably go for $1000.

MineralMan

(146,262 posts)

3. Adding Insult to Injury - It's The Trump Way

Reply to bdamomma (Original post)

Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:35 PM

Jul 2018

Feh!

KT2000

(20,568 posts)

4. weren't a couple companies

Reply to bdamomma (Original post)

Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:37 PM

Jul 2018

offering their services for free?

whathehell

(29,037 posts)

5. Plus the airfare to be reunited with their kids, I hear

Reply to bdamomma (Original post)

Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:41 PM

Jul 2018

lapfog_1

(29,194 posts)

6. I thought 23andme offered to donate enough DNA testing kits for all detained parents and children?

Reply to bdamomma (Original post)

Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:56 PM

Jul 2018

And, as a former federal procurement official, I believe there is a rule that the government MUST accept donated goods and services that would otherwise require procurement if such goods or services meet the needs of the government.

It's been a long time... so the regulation is a bit fuzzy... but I'm pretty sure it is true.

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