US Customs Agents Murder Baby

Written by Johnny Israel
johnny@cityroompress.com

On February 15, 2008, Baby Michael had been flown to Honolulu from Pago Pago, American Samoa for emergency heart surgery, accompanied by his mother and nurse. When they arrived at the Honolulu Airport, the baby died while they were detained inside a US Customs room, where they were being held by custom agents. Baby Michael Tony Futi was 14 days old.

US Custom Agents refused the baby emergency medical assistance, nor did they allow a medical emergency team to enter the room. Customs Agents locked little Baby Michael, his mother, and his nurse in a cold holding facility (cell) while custom agents purposely went about other business.

Delegate Enl Faleomavaega has asked the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the baby’s death. Faleomavaega called for the probe in a letter issued to Homeland Security chief, Michael Chertoff. The baby’s family lawyer also announced plans to sue the federal government over the baby’s death.

After 911, the government has taken unusually harsh measures of entry at US Airports. Their objective, they claim, is to weed out terrorists or suspected terrorists through vigilant scrutiny of foreign nationals entering the US via airports. However, in the case of baby Michael, his medical records clearly showed that he was in need of immediate life threatening medical attention. Further, the baby’s mother and nurse had in their possession all of the proper documents to enter the US, along with the baby’s hospital medical clearance where Michael was to receive an emergency heart operation.

Customs Agents behavior toward the Futi’s was no less than that of being potential terrorists, ignoring the fact the baby was in jeopardy of dieing. There has been no apology offered to the Futi family, nor an acceptance of responsibility of the baby’s death by any US Customs officials.

What happened to baby Michael should have never happened in the first place. Michael’s mother and nurse have no history of criminal behavior, nor was there anything suspicious about their entry that warranted locking them in a holding cell. Yet, US Customs Agents insensitive actions were despicable, shameful, brutal, and down right unconscionable. All people in law enforcement are held to a higher degree of accountability than the public. They are sworn by oath to protect the public. The US Custom Officials violated said oath when they denied Michael’s right to emergency medical treatment. And that violation was clearly committed under “Color of Law.”

Baby Michael died maliciously at the hands of US Customs Officials who willfully ignored the baby’s need for emergency medical care. What they did, or in this case what they refused to do, stops short of cold-blooded murder. To save face before the world and this great nation, the US government must take the necessary steps to prosecute those agents involved in Michael’s death. Anything short of murder charges is a slap in the face of the Futi family and the government of American Samoa.

Americans across this nation are outraged, shocked, and sadden by the US Custom Officials heartless actions. To ensure this never happens again, we Americans must never forget this tragic and senseless death. As are most crimes committed by U.S. Agents, this one will most likely be swept under the rug.