Girl, 7, held at US border dies from dehydration

A GIRL of seven has died from dehydration after being held at a US detention centre near the Mexican border.

The Guatemalan child was part of the caravan in which as many as 7,000 migrants marched towards America in search of a better life.

But after the girl illegally crossed into the US with her father and 161 others, the group handed themselves in and were taken to a detention centre.

Within hours the child – who has not been named – was having seizures and, despite hospital treatment, died a day later.

Paramedics found the girl had not drunk or eaten anything for three days, US Customs officials said. It is not clear if she was given food or water during the time she was in custody.

The girl died from septic shock, fever and dehydration, according to The Washington Post newspaper.

Border Protection told The Washington Post: ‘Border Patrol agents took every possible step to save the child’s life under the most trying of circumstances.

‘We empathise with the loss of any child.’

Her death will put pressure on Donald Trump, who has vowed to be tough on migrants trying to cross the border.