I'm just going to give the basics within the fair use constraints because I AM SO OUTRAGED i'd make hash of having a lot of personal commentary to add.
This is nothing more than some useless waste of space in customs throwing their weight around, to show how important they are.
UPDATE 1: per bradmajors in the comments:
During the flight, the nurse checked Michael's oxygen levels every 15 minutes and administered oxygen as needed, an autopsy report showed. The baby developed breathing problems while locked in the airport room, and his nurse pounded on the door, frantically pleading with officials to call 911, but was told to be quiet, according to the suit.
The infant was later taken by ambulance to Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Honolulu medical examiner concluded that Michael Futi died because he failed to receive required oxygen.
...which makes the truth of the matter even worse, which is quite a statement.
"Keep quiet"....(rages some more)
An ailing newborn from American Samoa would still be alive had he not been detained inappropriately at an airport checkpoint, the family's lawyer charged yesterday.
Attorney Rick Fried plans to file a wrongful-death lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection on behalf of the baby, Michael Tony Futi, who died Friday, and his parents, Tony and Luaipou Futi of American Samoa.
(snip)
The child was due to undergo an examination at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children (in Hawaii) for possible heart surgery.
According to documents provided by Fried yesterday, federal customs officials faxed a waiver form to Hawaiian Airlines and LBJ Tropical Medical Center notifying them about the agency's approval for Michael's mother -- who was born in Western Samoa -- to travel to Honolulu. Fried said the mother and an accompanying nurse had U.S. passports.
They arrived at Honolulu Airport about 5:30 a.m. on Friday and were the first off the plane.
Apparently there was a problem with Luaipou Futi's waiver form and all were taken to the customs checkpoint, Fried said. Simamao Nofoa, who served as an interpreter in a news conference in Fried's office in Honolulu yesterday, said officials did not explain to Michael's mother why they were being held.
The traveling nurse was unable to persuade officials to let her and the baby go while they sorted out the waiver issue with the mother. She arranged for her best friend, a nurse who works at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, to pick them up at Honolulu Airport.
After a half-hour in the warm, locked room, the baby suffered respiratory failure, Fried said.
*****
As if American Samoa hasn't been through enough with the recent natural disasters...
The main point here is that the baby's and the nurse's paperwork were in order! There was absolutely no reason to hold them other than assholish behavior on the part of customs officials.
There's so much outrage floating around this site, I thought that some could be afforded for 2 week old Michael Tony Futi -- who deserved better than death in a hot, stuffy room.
Link to story by Rosemarie Bernardo