8-Year-Old Child Dies in Border Patrol Custody on Christmas Day
NIGHTMARE
Just two weeks after Jakelin Caal's death sparked calls for an investigation into CBP facilities.
Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters
An 8-year-old Guatemalan child died early Christmas morning after earlier being detained by Border Patrol agents, officials announced. A statement released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the child, who has not yet been identified, died shortly after midnight at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The child was reportedly taken to the hospital along with his father after he “showed signs of potential illness.” He was initially diagnosed with a cold and fever on Monday and released with prescriptions for amoxicillin and Ibuprofen before winding back up at the hospital with nausea and vomiting. He died just a few hours later. The cause of death has yet to be determined, but CBP has said more details will be released shortly. The child’s death comes just two weeks after a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl, Jakelin Caal, died after being apprehended by U.S. immigration authorities.
