Family Urges Transparent Probe Into Death Of Migrant Child In US Custody - Lawyers

EL PASO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th December, 2018) The family of the 7-year-old Guatemalan migrant girl Jakelin Caal Maquin, who died while in US immigration custody, urged US authorities to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation into her death, lawyers representing the family said in a statement.

The family is represented by the Law Offices of Enrique Moreno and the Law Office of Lynn Coyle, PLLC.

"We urge investigating authorities to conduct a transparent and neutral investigation of Jakelin's death while in custody," the lawyers said on Saturday.

The family is seeking an objective and thorough probe, and requests investigators to assess the incident within nationally recognized standards for the arrest and custody of children, according to the lawyers. The family also intended to assist in the investigation into the cause and circumstances of Jakelin's death.

Moreover, the lawyers noted that the El Paso County Officer of the Medical Examiner's office, which conducted Jakelin's autopsy, had not made a public statement regarding her cause of death. The Medical Examiner and Providence Children's Hospital have also not released records to Jakelin's father.

Lawyers did not provide any further information and have asked the father not to make any public statements to the media.

The Annunciation House, a non-profit immigration support group, is currently providing the father, Nery Gilberto Caal Cuz, with the shelter and legal counsel.

Annunciation House Executive Director Ruben Garcia said that the girl's father was able to spend time with Jakelin's body at the mortuary in El Paso on Friday where a prayer service was held for her. Jakelin's body had been taken to the Texas city of Laredo, from where it would then be flown to Guatemala, Garcia added.

On Friday, US Customs and Border Protection said their office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General (DHS OIG) were investigating Jakelin's death.

On December 6, Jakelin Caal Maquin was apprehended together with her father for illegal entry along with a group of 163 undocumented immigrants in southern New Mexico, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said. The girl had been diagnosed with brain swelling and liver failure before she died, the agency said.

CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in statement on Friday that border agents did everything in their power to provide medical care to Caal immediately after her father notified agents of her distress while at a remote operating base 94 miles from the nearest Border Patrol station.

The Guatemalan government has been notified immediately following the death, CBP said.