Immigrant Girl Dies After Being Detained By Immigration Authorities

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died after crossing the desert with her father and being handed over to the border patrol in New Mexico, according to reports. While in the immigration detention center, the little girl began to convulse. Although she was taken by emergency helicopter to a hospital in El Paso, she died there of septic shock, fever and dehydration, according to doctors.

The little girl, who was taken into custody of the Border Patrol (CBP), traveled with her father and a group of 163 other immigrants before surrendering to the authorities after crossing the desert.

A few hours after her arrest, the girl began to convulse. According to the immigration agency, the minor (identified as Jackeline Caal) had a fever of 105.7 degrees Fahrenheit, so they called for first aid.

An official statement details that the girl had not eaten or drunk water for several days. The little girl suffered cardiac arrest and died less than 24 hours after arriving at the hospital.

The girl's father is in El Paso waiting to meet with the Guatemalan Consulate. The immigration agency is investigating the case to see if the correct measures were taken to care for the minor's health.

"Our sincere condolences to the girl's family," Andrew Meehan, a CBP spokesman, said in a statement sent to the Washington Post. "Border agents took every possible step to save the child's life under the most difficult circumstances." The baby's autopsy results are still awaited. Rest in peace.