Second Guatemalan child dies in US custody
WASHINGTON: An eight-year-old migrant from Guatemala died in US government custody, Customs and Border Protection said, 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 on Tuesday.
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 just after midnight.
The CBP said it had not established the cause of death but would “ensure an independent and thorough review of the circumstances”.
Guatemala called on US authorities to conduct a “clear” investigation 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.
“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 migrant 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 the remote village where her family lives.
“This girl left home happy searching for a dream, but unfortunately died on the way,” community leader Alberto Pop said in the cemetery in the community of Maya Q’eqchi’.
“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,” Pop said.