US Congressman Calls On Border Patrol Chief To Resign After Migrant Child Dies In Custody

LORDSBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th December, 2018) US Congressman Joaquin Castro told reporters on Tuesday that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan should resign after a Guatemalan migrant child died while in their custody earlier this month.

On December 6, Jakelin Caal Maquin, 7, was apprehended together with her father for illegally entering the United States along with a group of 163 undocumented immigrants in the US state of New Mexico, according to the CBP. Maquin died on December 8 after becoming ill while in CBP custody.

"I had the opportunity to speak to CBP Commissioner McAleenan twice...based on my conversations with him, based on his conduct, I believe that he should step down, I believe that would be the best course of action at this time," Castro told reporters.

Castro said McAleenan admitted that the CBP violated US Federal law by failing to notify Congress within 24 hours that Caal had died while in their custody.

Castro said that it is clear than many of these CBP facilities, not just the ones they visited in New Mexico on Tuesday, are under resourced, and have a lack of training and medical equipment.

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus visited CBP facilities in the state of New Mexico to investigate the circumstances surrounding Maquin's death. The lawmakers pointed out that the remote CBP facility at the Antelope Wells Port of Entry did not have any running water because it had been shut down due to contamination.

On Friday, CBP said its Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General are investigating Maquin's death.

Maquin became ill while in US custody after being apprehended with her father on December 6 for illegally crossing into the United States. After being flown to the nearest trauma center, some 94 miles away in the city of El Paso, doctors were unable to save Maquin and she died on December 8.

Lawyers representing the Maquin family said in a statement on Saturday that she was in good condition when she crossed the US border and was apprehended by CBP agents.

The girl's father, Nery Caal, did not speak to the press on Saturday during a press briefing at the Annunciation House in El Paso at the request of his legal counsel. CBP granted the father provisional release to the non-profit immigration support group, which is providing him shelter.

CBP officials said the agency did everything in its power to provide medical care to Maquin immediately after being notified of her condition. CBP also said Maquin had no evidence of health issues when they conducted an initial screening after her apprehension. On Friday, the White House rejected responsibility for Maquin's death and said it was a senseless and needless death that is 100 percent preventable.