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Guatemalan boy becomes second child to die in U.S. custody in December


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Guatemalan boy becomes second child to die in U.S. custody in December

By Yeganeh Torbati

 

2018-12-26T003627Z_1_LYNXNPEEBP00N_RTROPTP_4_USA-IMMIGRATION-BORDER-DEATH.JPG

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials in San Diego County, U.S., are seen through a hole on the metallic border wall between United States and Mexico, photographed through the border wall in Tijuana, Mexico, Dec. 17, 2018. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An 8-year-old Guatemalan migrant boy died shortly after midnight on Tuesday after being detained by U.S. border agents, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said, making him the second migrant child this month to die in U.S. detention.

 

The boy and his father were in CBP custody on Monday when a Border Patrol agent noticed the child showing signs of illness, CBP said in a statement. The father and son were taken to the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where the boy was diagnosed with a common cold and fever, and eventually released by hospital staff.

 

But later that evening, the boy began vomiting and was transferred back to the hospital. He died there shortly after midnight, CBP said, adding that the official cause of death is not known.

 

The father and son were not identified, and the agency said it would release more details "as available and appropriate." Guatemalan officials have been notified of the death, CBP said.

 

Guatemala's Foreign Ministry said its consul in Phoenix was seeking to interview the boy's father, to whom it pledged to give all necessary consular assistance and protection. In a statement, the ministry said it also requested medical reports to clarify the cause of death.

 

According to the ministry, the boy and his father entered the United States via El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 18 and were transferred to a border patrol station in Alamogordo on Dec. 23.

 

The boy's death followed the death in early December of 7-year-old Jakelin Caal, also from Guatemala. She died after being detained along with her father by U.S. border agents in a remote part of New Mexico.

 

The Trump administration has tried to deter people from crossing the border between ports of entry illegally to seek asylum, while at the same time restricting legal access to official ports of entry. That has created a months-long wait for asylum applicants, including those who came as part of a large caravan of Central Americans this year.

 

Caal's funeral was being held on Christmas Day in her family's village in Guatemala.

 

Her death fuelled criticism of President Donald Trump's immigration policies from Democrats and migrant advocates. The Trump administration said Caal's death showed the danger of her journey and the family's decision to cross the border illegally.

 

Her death is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General, which looks into accusations of misconduct by the agency's employees.

 

CBP said on Tuesday that the Guatemalan boy's death is being reviewed by the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility, and that the Inspector General has been notified of the death. It was not immediately known if the watchdog would open an investigation into the boy's death.

 

(Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati; Additional reporting by Sofia Menchu in San Antonio Secortez, Guatemala; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Leslie Adler)

 
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-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-26
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7 hours ago, Kasset Tak said:

So, I guess US will pay $500 million to boys parents!? I mean, that is what US courts demands from North Korea for the American that died back in US after have been in North Korean custody... All people have equal value so it's not more than fare... so that's 2 children already dead in US custody so now we are up to $1 billion!!!

 

You would think there would be some kind of equivalencies... but no. Some like to have cake and eat it too.

 

US law will not recognize any foreign court action against its government / personnel. No court action, no adverse judgement, no payout.... and no mechanism to force compliance exists, unlike in the case against NK, where asset freezing by big brother, would be the likely mechanism

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Guest Jerry787

Trump and his supporters victims, such brutalities to let innocent child dies on what ever immigration crazy policies are sin that will be on their soul for ever. 

 

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“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

 

Leviticus 19-33

 

I went to a Lutheran School. Bible study was compulsory. There were tests and exams. After Highschool, I studied another year under the guidance of a Jehova’s witness counselor. I’m an atheist. But I wonder what Christians think about this Administration’s treatment of asylum seekers in general, and the policy of family seperations in particular.

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9 minutes ago, Trouble said:

What do you think would have happen had the boy and his father not been detained?  Would the boy have been perfectly fine with no hospitalization? Parents drag their children over a long journey without proper care and they land in the US for a day and it is the fault of Trump and the Immigration and Border Patrol when the child succumbs to something? There is logic for you.

When the gov't, whether it is ICE, CBP or the local police, take someone into custody they do assume a level of responsibility for their care.   The policy that led to detention is Trump's responsibility and the physical care is the responsibility of CBP.   

 

I have no idea if they screwed up, but if the parent and child were not in custody, then it certainly would not be an issue for them.   

 

 

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6 hours ago, Thakkar said:

I wonder what Christians think about this Administration’s treatment of asylum seekers in general, and the policy of family seperations in particular.

I've read evangelicals are more than happy to overlook the pussy-grabber-in-chief's transgressions because he is bringing the world closer to Armageddon on a daily basis.

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12 hours ago, ivor bigun said:

I feel sympathy for the poor child,but it is the parents who brought him thousands of miles,perhaps if they had stayed home he may still be alive.

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

....or perhaps if they were allowed to make the asylum application in a timely fashion instead of being forced to remain outside the country in poor conditions, he would still be alive.   

 

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5 minutes ago, bert bloggs said:

As it was ,he was sent to hospital ,it was reported in the local papers that his mother sent him with his father in the hope it would be easier for his father to get into America ,she now hopes he will be allowed to stay ,why? the her and her 3 other kids can join him , they were to blame , not anyone else .

You would be correct if the unfortunate death had happened BEFORE they were placed in US custody for a misdemeanor offence. With custody comes responsibility.

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46 minutes ago, bert bloggs said:

And the authorities were responsible,they took him to hospital , it is just a shame they could not save him , but they did try . thats it .

It would be "it" if there was not an investigation following... why do y'all love to proclaim "it's over... it's a nothing burger..." before the facts are in? Seems strange if it truly is nothing.

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On 12/27/2018 at 5:42 AM, quandow said:

I've read evangelicals are more than happy to overlook the pussy-grabber-in-chief's transgressions because he is bringing the world closer to Armageddon on a daily basis.

 

Indeed, he has something like 70% approval rating among (white) evangelicals. Yet, they don’t see how mind-bending are their contradictions: to usher in *one* of the tenets in *one* of books of The Bible, they accede to break with dozens of other major tenets espoused in many other books of The Bible.

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It has been reported in the newspapers Daily Mail for one that the father of the boy took out a 7000 dollar loan to pay for his trip to America ,perhaps it would have been a better idea to use that money to better the lives of him his wife and four children back home and then perhaps the poor young child may still be alive .

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43 minutes ago, bert bloggs said:

It has been reported in the newspapers Daily Mail for one that the father of the boy took out a 7000 dollar loan to pay for his trip to America ,perhaps it would have been a better idea to use that money to better the lives of him his wife and four children back home and then perhaps the poor young child may still be alive .

Possibly. But the father and mother thought not. They hoped for the best. Losing one (which may have happened back home anyway, considering what they were running from) for the benefit of five may have been a considered calculation. Desperate times/desperate measures...

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On 12/29/2018 at 4:51 PM, ivor bigun said:

Sorry what were they running from,is there a war there or are they being persecuted,if so i thought they would have been safe long before arriving in America

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

trump has dramatically reduced aid to Central American countries to assist them to improve security for their citizens, assist with initiatives to improve the economy and other measures to minimise law and order problems. Accordingly, In essence, trump is contributing to the exodus of the peoples of the three main source countries. trump is an ignoramus by making decisions pandering to his base, which only create more problems for his so called government.

 

No doubt you would be fully informed of the above and endemic gang violence in Central American countries, the huge murder rate, death threats to families if they refuse demands for children to join gangs and so on. Humanitarian visas are usually provided when threat of government oppression etc is not applicable, but trump has dramatically reduced the number of visas available on an annual basis One assumes you are already informed of these matters???

 

 

 

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13 minutes ago, Ahab said:

Crazy immigration policies such as legally around a million "legal" immigrants into the USA each and every year?. No country in the world allows unrestricted immigration and to bash the USA's current immigration policies as crazy or a sin is just plain wrong. The sin in this story is not on President Trump but on the irresponsible parent that brought his/her child on a long and very dangerous journey with the hope that they could illegally cross the US/Mexican border. Enforcing the laws (which are drafted by congress) is what all President's do and I did not hear very much outrage when President Obama enforced the same laws that Trump is being bashed for enforcing. 

The law is very clear.   You have the right to apply for asylum once you reach the US border.   That was denied and is being denied or delayed for many.   So Trump is not following the intent of the law.   

 

Whether they are allowed to remain in the US depends on the voracity of their claim to asylum.   They are pre-screened first and if their claim is seen as credible, they are given a full asylum hearing.   

 

 

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