The body of the 7-year-old girl who died in the United States is back in Guatemala



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Jakelin's family says he fled the country with his father, Nery Gilberto Caal, 29, looking for a better life. She survived 2,000 kilometers in northern Guatemala before dying less than 48 hours after Border Patrol officers stopped her at a US-Mexican border crossing.

His body was repatriated Sunday to Guatemala after being flown from Laredo, Texas. Her remains will be transported to the indigenous community of Raxruha, where she was originally from.

His death marked a new turning point in the debate over the uncompromising approach of the Trump administration regarding the enforcement of immigration laws. Several people, including the Jakelin family, were wondering if better medical care could have saved her.

A GoFundMe page authorized by the Guatemalan Consulate was created to help Jakelin's family. The funds will cover the basic needs of the family, including medical care for the three siblings of the girl, as well as the construction of a bathroom and a kitchen at their home, said Priscilla Villareal, a community organizer in Texas who created the page.

Conflicting Histories

According to CBP, Jakelin and his father illegally crossed the border about half a mile to the west of the harbor Antelope Wells entrance, New Mexico. They were arrested with 163 other migrants on 6 December.

  A timeline of the last hours of Jakeline Caal Maquin
The family's lawyers, said Caal and his daughter were seeking asylum in the United States. Jakelin's father asked for a credible fear interview – the first step in the asylum application, said Lynn Coyle, a lawyer representing Jakelin's family.

Family lawyers stated that Jakelin and his father had not been supplied with water for the approximately eight hours they had been detained at Antelope Wells, while waiting to be taken to a border patrol post. However, CBP stated that migrants "had access to food, water and toilets" during their detention and transfer.

CBP claims that an initial screening on Jakelin "did not reveal any evidence of health problems" and that her father stated that she was "in good health," indicated Agency in a statement.

The agency said that Jakelin's father had first reported the sickness and vomiting of the girl while she was already in the bus but before the bus left.

But family lawyers say they have sought the help of the first border patrol agents met near Antelope Wells. Attorney Enrique Moreno said that Jakelin's father had stated that she was sick and that she was vomiting.

One way or another, during an hour and a half bus ride between Antelope Wells and the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station, its health has deteriorated. Two days later, she was dead.

Critical 90 Minutes

Moreno said that these 90 minutes could have been critical. By the time Jakelin arrived at Lordsburg Station, Jakelin's father said his daughter was not breathing.

Shortly before the departure of the bus, "there was a sign of distress and it was decided at that moment to transport it by bus." , "Moreno said Wednesday.

" An assessment by qualified medical personnel should have been made before he left for Lordsburg, "he said.

  These 3 families highlight the human struggles behind the debate on immigration in the United States

[19659002] But CBP stated that the area where Jakelin was being held was far from a quick access to emergency care, and bringing him to Lordburg for urgent medical care was the best option.

Before the bus arrived in Lordsburg, customs officers called the station and asked for the help of an emergency medical technician, the department said. of Internal Security

"Border patrol officers, including qualified emergency medical doctors, have made every effort to provide urgent medical assistance to Jakelin Caal Maquin immediately after his father informed the officers of his distress, "said in a statement CBP, Kevin K. McAleenan.

"Border patrol agents resuscitated Jakelin twice before the emergency services arrived by air ambulance to continue medical care," he said. "Health professionals have transported it by helicopter to the nearest children's hospital."

Unanswered Questions

Early indications received from a hospital suggest that Jakelin would have died of sepsis shock. But the local medical examiner has not yet determined the official cause of death, pending further studies.

Family lawyers say this is just one of many unanswered questions in this disturbing case.

"Why were medical personnel not present on the spot?" What was the level of medical training of port staff? What were the conditions of detention in which Jakelin was held for eight months? hours? " Coyle asked.

"These are all questions we must answer with precision."

CNN's Holly Yan and Abel Alvarado contributed to this story. Emanuella Grinberg wrote this story in San Francisco and Michelle Mendoza was postponed to Guatemala City.

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