Migrant dies in Border Patrol custody

Death is third in agency custody since December

A 45-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico died in Border Patrol custody Monday after crossing the U.S.Mexico border into Texas, marking the third person to die in the agency’s custody since December.

The immigrant illegally crossed the border and was arrested by the Roma (Texas) Police Department on Feb. 2, requested medical attention and was taken to a local hospital, according to a statement released Monday night by Customs and Border Protection. The immigrant “was cleared” by officials at the Mission Regional Medical Center and was handed over to Border Patrol officials at the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station, according to the CBP.

The following day, after receiving a welfare check by CBP officials, the immigrant again requested medical attention and was taken to the McAllen Medical Center, where the immigrant was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and congestive heart failure, CBP said. The immigrant remained at the hospital before dying on Monday morning.

The incident follows two cases in December when children from Guatemala, ages 8 and 7, died after crossing the U.S. border into New Mexico, drawing widespread condemnation from critics of the Border Patrol.

That prompted Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to issue new guidelines requiring his agents to more quickly inform CBP leadership, Congress, and the public of the death of people in its custody. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen later followed up by ordering more robust medical screenings of children in its custody.

Customs and Border Protection spokesman Andrew Meehan said the cause of death in Monday’s case is unknown, and that the immigrant’s identity is not being released. Meehan said the department has alerted Congress and the Mexican government.

DANIEL OCHOA DE OLZA/AP A family of asylum-seekers are taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol agents, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico, in December.