A third migrant dies in the custody of the Border Patrol in as many months

TO CLOSE

US Customs and Border Protection authorities have ordered medical checks on all children placed Tuesday after the death of an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy in New Mexico, marking the second death of a child. an immigrant child entrusted to the agency this month. (December 26)
AP

A 45-year-old undocumented Mexican immigrant died on Monday in the border patrol guard after crossing the US-Mexico border into Texas, marking the third person who has died in custody since December.

The immigrant illegally crossed the border and was arrested on February 2 by the Rome Police Department (Texas). He sought medical attention and was taken to a local hospital, according to a statement issued Monday night by Customs and Border Protection. The immigrant was "cleared" by officials of the regional medical center of the Mission and handed over to border patrol officials at the border patrol post of the city of Rio Grande, according to the CBP statement.

The next day, after receiving a social assistance check from CBP officials, the immigrant again sought medical attention and was taken to McAllen Medical Center where he was diagnosed with cirrhosis. liver and congestive heart failure, said CBP. The immigrant stayed at the hospital before dying Monday morning.

The incident follows two cases in December, in which 8- and 7-year-old Guatemalan minors died after crossing the US border into New Mexico, leading to a widespread condemnation of the Border Patrol.

This prompted the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, Kevin McAleenan, to issue new directives requiring his agents to inform the CBP leaders, the Congress and the public more quickly of the deaths of those in his custody. Homeland Security Department Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen then ordered more rigorous medical examinations of the children he keeps in custody.

These deaths are the result of intense criticism of the agency's treatment of children during the now-abolished "zero tolerance" of the administration, which has resulted in more than 2,800 separations of families. along the border.

The spokesman of the Customs and Border Protection Department, Andrew Meehan, said that the official cause of death in the case of Monday was still unknown and that the identity of the immigrant was still not revealed. Meehan said the ministry is following the newly created notification guidelines following deaths in his custody, and has alerted Congress and the Mexican government of the immigrant's death.

"These losses of life are tragic," Meehan said in a statement. "Our condolences go out to family and loved ones, and CBP remains committed to providing safe and humane treatment to those in our custody."

Border Patrol officials said that they could not handle the influx of unaccompanied family units and minors who had flooded the southwestern border in recent years, a number of people who had been living in the country. among them having applied for asylum in the United States.

In the last four months, a monthly average of 24,975 family unit members and 5,031 unaccompanied minors have crossed the southern border, according to CBP data. The family average is much higher than the monthly average of 6,406 for the same period in 2018.

A family of asylum seekers are arrested by border patrol agents from the United States after crossing the US border to San Diego, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico on Thursday, December 27, 2018. (Photo 11: Daniel Ochoa from Olza, AP)

This rise in power has led the Trump administration to try to limit the number of people who can apply for asylum, actions blocked by federal courts. The rise also contributed to President Donald Trump's decision Friday at declare a national emergency to widen the southern border wall, which will also lead to an avalanche of lawsuits.