Another child, 8, dies in U.S. custody, this time on Christmas morning
An eight-year-old child from Guatemala lost his life on Christmas morning. It's the second child to die in U.S custody this month.
The child, whose identity is still unknown, become ill on December 25 and was taken to the Gerald Champion Regional Medical center in Alamogordo.
Read more on our Twitter account, @amomama_usa. The child was held for 90 minutes, despite having a fever.
Authorities only took him to the hospital on Monday when he didn't stop vomiting, and he died shortly after that. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Guatemalan boy, 8, dies in custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, second child to die in detention this month https://t.co/eDET0denVW pic.twitter.com/HI8Kk6b4PY
— CP24 (@CP24) December 25, 2018
According to CPB, the child was diagnosed with a cold and a fever before his passing. The Guatemalan government has been notified, and the child's death will be investigated.
Jakelin Caal died of dehydration after she was held without food and water for several days. According to her parents, Caal was healthy when she was taken from them.
#BREAKING: 8-year-old Guatemalan boy dies in US custody https://t.co/a7Em4uWzmd pic.twitter.com/QaZt8LEhLF
— The Hill (@thehill) December 25, 2018
Following his death, the Department of Homeland Security claims that children arrive at the border unaccompanied, either illegally or without authorization:
"Consistent with existing law, these individuals are held at federal facilities pending their removal or release into the interior of the United States with a notice to appear at a court hearing. During their period of detention, they received medical screenings and further treatment as needed."
NEW: An 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died while in U.S. Customs and Border Patrol custody after being treated for an undisclosed illness, according to the agency. https://t.co/CMr26SvqMK
— ABC News (@ABC) December 25, 2018
However, the death of a seven-year-old Guatemalan child earlier this month brought that statement into question.
Jakelin Caal died of dehydration after she was held without food and water for several days. According to her parents, Caal was healthy when she was taken from them.
BREAKING: 8-year-old Guatemalan boy dies of unknown causes in custody of US Customs and Border Protection on Christmas, the agency says. https://t.co/ZvyTl2Rky7
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 25, 2018
At the time of her death, Homeland Security expressed their "sincerest condolences" and claimed that border agents "took every possible step" to save her life. Read more on the story here.
Tensions have been building at the Mexican border as migrants are kept in temporary shelters in the border city of Tijuana.
8-year-old child dies in Border Patrol custody on Christmas Day https://t.co/Aa9huLVYve
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 25, 2018
And while President Trump vowed to keep all migrants on Mexico's side until the courts decide their cases, children are losing their lives.
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