Tragedy shatters migrant dreams
AN eight-year-old migrant from Guatemala died in US Government custody on Christmas Day, 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, Customs and Border Protection 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 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 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.
“Heartbroken and sickened by this news,” Senator Martin Heinrich 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.”
The boy’s death came on the same day that Jakelin Caal, a Guatemalan migrant girl who died in US custody under similar circumstances this month, was buried.
Her body was repatriated on Sunday to the remote village where her family lives 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 said.
“You hear that in the United States, they pay well, not like the companies here in Guatemala – that’s why people leave.”
Mr Pop’s son, Joaquin, 22, left in November in search of the American dream.
“I don’t know if he is alive or dead,” Mr Pop said.
Unfortunately, these decisions (to migrate) are made because of scarce economic resources,” Jakelin’s cousin Mario Caal said at the funeral.
THE ADMINISTRATION MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS CHILD’S DEATH AND ALL THE LIVES THEY HAVE PUT IN DANGER
SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH