US medical checks at border after second child’s death
WASHINGTON: US Customs and Border protection announced it would conduct medical checks on all children in its custody following the death of an eightyear-old Guatemalan migrant – the second child fatality in American detention this month.
The boy, who was with his apprehended father, had been transferred to a New Mexico medical centre showing signs of sickness on Monday, the agency said.
Staff diagnosed him with a cold but later discovered a fever.
He was released at midday, with prescriptions for ibuprofen and the antibiotic amoxicillin.
The child was later transferred back to the hospital after showing signs of nausea and vomiting, and died on Monday just before midnight.
CBP said it had not established the cause of death but would “ensure an independent and thorough review of the circumstances.”
Later, commissioner Kevin K McAleenan announced the agency was “conducting secondary medical checks upon all children in CBP care and custody,” and “reviewing its policies with particular focus upon care and custody of children under 10.”
He added CBP was considering seeking medical support from other agencies, among them the US Coast Guard and the Department of Defence.
“CBP is coordinating with the Centres for Disease Control on the numbers of children in custody as well,” he said.
Guatemala called on US authorities to conduct a ‘clear’ investigation of the death, adding that “medical reports have been requested to clarify the cause of death of the child.”
The news of the boy’s death triggered outrage on social media.
“Another child dies under this Administration’s watch,” tweeted Democratic Congressman Marc Veasey of Texas.
“Such a devastating story to hear on Christmas Day.”
“Heartbroken and sickened by this news,” Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico wrote on Twitter.
“I am urgently demanding more details, but the Trump administration must be held accountable for this child’s death and all the lives they have put in danger with their intentional chaos and disregard for human life,” he tweeted.
The boy’s death came on the same day that Jakelin Caal, a Guatemalan girl who died in US custody under similar circumstances earlier this month, was buried.
Her body was repatriated on Sunday and after a long journey reached San Antonio Secortez, the remote village where her family – members of the indigenous Q’eqchi’ Maya people – live without electricity and other basic services.
“This girl left home happy searching for a dream, but unfortunately died on the way,” community leader Alberto Pop told AFP in the cemetery.
“You hear that in the United States they pay well, not like the companies here in Guatemala – that’s why people leave,” said Pop, whose 22-year-old son Joaquin left in November in search of the American dream.
“I don’t know if he is alive or dead.”
“Unfortunately, these decisions (to migrate) are made because of scarce economic resources,” Jakelin’s cousin Mario Caal said at the funeral.
Jakelin Caal’s December 8 death reignited debate in the United States over immigration policy and the treatment of migrants.