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Congressional Democrats Call for an In-Depth Investigation of US Customs and Border Protection Officers After the Death of a 7-Year-Old Guatemalan Girl Last Week While She Was Under US Guard, reported Friday
Five senior Democratic legislators, whose members will soon chair the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, sent Friday a letter to the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Security Inside, John Kelly, asking that an investigation be conducted into the death of Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin, reported the Washington Post.
Lawmakers cited "the seriousness of this tragedy and the many issues that remain to be resolved," the document says.
"The survey should focus on policies and practices designed to protect health and safety, as well as policies and practices that may result in increased migration across particularly harsh terrain," he said. the letter.
The letter stated that the investigation should consider "the elderly children in border patrol positions," which they claim were never designed to babysit ".
The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security has opened an investigation and congressional leaders have also promised to open one.
The letter also states that the DHS should investigate "l & # 39; CBP's inability to inform Congress in a timely manner "of the case, stating that it was" difficult to exaggerate our frustration "after learning of this incident by the media a week after the incident. incident
Senator Chuck Schumer, head of the Senate minority, tweets in response to the death of the migrant girl
"A 7-year-old girl should not die of dehydration or shock during custody of the Customs and Border Protection ", said Senate Senate Leader Chuck Schumer. "Secretary Nielsen and @DHSgov must be held responsible for the death of Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin."
Jakelin was arrested by US authorities with his father, Nery Gilberto Caal Cuz, 29, and other migrants this month in a remote New Mexico desert. About seven hours later, she was put on a bus to the nearest border patrol station, but she soon started to vomit, according to reports. By the end of the two-hour drive, she had stopped breathing, according to reports. She died as a result of dehydration and a state of shock, according to the British newspaper The Post, citing CBP.
Customs and border protection authorities said Friday that the girl appeared healthy and that an interview showed no signs of trouble.
Border officials and signed a form stating that she was in good health, although a Guatemalan official said Friday that the mother tongue of the family was a Mayan dialect.
CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said agents "do everything in their power" to save her.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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