US border officers will not talk to legislator about the death of a girl

(Reuters) – US Border Patrol officers who arrested a 7-year-old Guatemalan migrant girl who died later in federal custody will not speak to US lawmakers investigating his death, the US Department of Justice said Monday. Homeland Security, citing their union affiliation.

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Tuesday plan to travel to the New Mexico patrol post where Jakelin Caal and his father were taken for to learn more about the reasons for his death. day.

Caal's death fueled criticism from Democrats and migrant advocates over President Donald Trump's immigration policy.

Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said that this showed the dangers of her trip and the family's decision to cross the border illegally.

US. Representative Joaquin Castro, a Democrat who heads the Hispanic Caucus, said legislators needed to see how border patrol posts are equipped to protect the health and safety of migrants. Lawmakers want to question the agents who were present when Caal got sick.

DHS stated that the majority of the officers involved in the detention of the girl were members of the union and, therefore, their duties were not to speak to members of Congress.

Art Del Cueto, spokesman for the officers' union, the National Border Patrol Council, advised them not to talk to anyone outside the DHS about the incident until the agency not finished his investigation.

DHS stated that visiting legislators would be able to meet with the US Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Border Patrol.

"While DHS respects the congressional oversight role, it is important to let the review process go unchecked," said DHS spokeswoman Katie Waldman in a statement.

The agents involved in the incident will participate in the investigation of the death of Caal by the DHS inspector general, DHS said.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Caal and his father crossed an isolated border area with a group of 163 immigrants and were apprehended by the Border Patrol. They waited eight hours to be transported to the nearest border patrol station. Upon arriving at Lordsburg Station in New Mexico, Caal was found to have a high fever. She died on December 8 in a hospital in El Paso, Texas, after being diagnosed with liver failure, according to CBP.

Family lawyers issued a statement Saturday calling for a "transparent and neutral" inquiry into his death. The family has disputed a statement made by CBP officials at the Washington Post that Jakelin had not eaten or drunk water for several days.