128:. Initial reports stated that the girl had been without food or water for the last several days of the journey, but her family disputes that claim. The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement indicating that DHS personnel conducted an initial screening when the girl was taken into custody, and that "he initial screening revealed no evidence of health issues". Caal was among a large group of immigrants who turned themselves in to authorities upon reaching the New Mexico border on December 6, 2018. They were placed on a bus, and her father indicated that she was feverish and vomiting. No medical attention was provided until they arrived at a border patrol facility ninety minutes later. Eight hours after being taken into custody, Caal began to experience
91:, and others blaming the families and arguing that the deaths were a hazard of illegal immigration. The two were initially thought to have been the first immigrant children to die in U.S. custody since 2010, but in May 2019, it was revealed that another immigrant child had died under these circumstances some three months before Caal and Alonzo, in September 2018.
183:, remaining in Border Patrol custody on December 24, when Gómez Alonzo first began to show symptoms of illness. Gómez Alonzo's family members have said that the child "wasn't sick on the way; he wasn't sick here". However, while in custody he developed a 103 °F (39.4 °C) fever. He was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a
343:, and questioned whether the timely disclosure of that death would have "resulted in US Border Patrol, and others caring for these children, to change their procedures for the better, possibly saving the lives of the two young migrant children, 7-year-old Jakelin Caal and 8-year-old Felipe Gómez Alonzo".
296:
noted that these were not the only deaths of immigrants in the custody of U.S. agencies tasked with policing immigration, with a 19-month-old girl having died in May 2018, and 12 additional people having died in 2018 at adult detention centers. In response to Gómez Alonzo's death, Secretary
Nielsen
314:
would prevent people with children from even attempting to immigrate. Trump revived interest in the death of
Jakelin Caal three months later, on March 30, 2019, when he incorrectly stated to reporters that "the father gave the child no water for a long period of time" and that the father "actually
285:
Gómez Alonzo's death, coming less than three weeks later, was immediately compared to Caal's death, and similarly led to calls from lawmakers to investigate the death, and to draft legislation to prevent further incidents of this type. Doctors questioned whether Gómez Alonzo's death was in part
179:". The father and son left Guatemala after hearing rumors "that parents and children would be allowed to migrate to the United States". They were apprehended at the border in New Mexico on December 18, 2018, and taken to a facility in El Paso, Texas. They were then transferred to a facility in
211:
Other politicians and celebrities addressed this death from various positions, some arguing that it was the fault of the girl's family for taking her on the arduous journey from
Guatemala to the United States, and others arguing that the immigration policies of the
714:"In 2004 Scott Simon attacked Fahrenheit 9/11 for not investigating whether bombs that killed Iraqis during the invasion had come from US planes or were errant Iraqi anti-aircraft shells. As if there would have been anti-aircraft shells without the US war"
151:, a kind of bacterial infection. The Associated Press reported that "traces of streptococcus bacteria were found in Jakelin's lungs, adrenal gland, liver, and spleen", a condition leading to failure of multiple organs.
220:
Due to the seriousness of this tragedy and the many questions that remain, we request you initiate an investigation into this incident as well as CBP policies or practices that may have contributed to the child's
191:. He was prescribed amoxicillin and ibuprofen, and was released that afternoon. Gómez Alonzo later began vomiting, and was taken back to the hospital, where he died minutes before midnight on December 24, 2018.
305:
Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the
Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country
769:
297:
said that the U.S. immigration system had been "pushed to a breaking point by those who seek open borders", requiring changes in detention procedures. On
December 29, 2018, President
272:
agents did all they could to try to save the life of
Jakelin Caal Maquin, a 7-year-old girl from Guatemala, who died in the custody of the United States." Journalist Jon Schwarz from
538:
319:
reported an
Associated Press fact checking piece that noted that: "Neither the autopsy report, nor accounts at the time by Customs and Border Protection, spoke of dehydration".
264:
denied that the Trump
Administration had any responsibility "for a parent taking a child on a trek through Mexico to get to this country". On December 15, 2018, NPR journalist
383:
260:
stated that Caal's death was "a very sad example of the dangers of this journey", and that "this family chose to cross illegally". White House Deputy Press
Secretary
866:
638:
207:
There are no words to capture the horror of a seven-year-old girl dying of dehydration in U.S. custody. What's happening at our borders is a humanitarian crisis.
901:
601:
844:
906:
459:
216:
contributed to the death. A letter from five members of
Congress requested that the acting inspector general of DHS investigate the death, stating:
886:
687:
896:
433:
582:
514:
411:
916:
311:
803:
488:
290:, specifically found that Gómez Alonzo "wasn't appreciated to be as ill as he was", and that "clearly his treatment wasn't adequate".
355:
560:
911:
620:
26:(2010 – December 24, 2018) were Guatemalan immigrant children who died, in separate incidents, while in the custody of the
175:, described as "a poor community of returnees from Mexico who had fled Guatemala in the bloodiest years of that country's
667:
822:
668:"Trump Administration Says Family of Girl Who Died While Detained by Border Patrol 'Knew They Were Crossing Illegally'"
269:
88:
286:
attributable to the failure of border patrol personnel to administer a flu test, and Colleen Kraft, president of the
739:
788:
754:
287:
340:
132:, and her body temperature spiked to 105.7 °F (40.9 °C). She was then airlifted to a hospital in
27:
249:
said, "we are causing suffering and in the case of Jakelin, seven years old, we are causing death". In
125:
770:"Democratic lawmakers call for hearings, legislation after second child dies in immigration custody"
143:, to Guatemala on Sunday, December 23, 2018, there to be returned to Raxruha. On March 29, 2019, an
384:"The 7-year-old girl who died in Border Patrol custody was healthy before she arrived, father says"
172:
73:
46:
331:, had died under these circumstances some three months before Caal and Alonzo, in September 2018.
327:
In late May 2019, it was revealed that another immigrant child, Darlyn Cristabel Cordova-Valle of
113:
65:
while in Border Patrol custody, having illegally entered the country with her father, Nery Caal.
50:
180:
891:
242:
213:
176:
148:
8:
713:
388:
58:
489:"Father of Guatemalan boy who died in U.S. custody heard rumors they could cross border"
755:"The final days of Felipe Alonzo-Gomez, the 8-year-old migrant who died in US custody"
539:"A 10-year-old migrant girl died last year in government care, officials acknowledge"
412:"Seven-year-old girl who died at border did not receive medical care for 90 minutes"
234:
823:"'A Breaking Point': Second Child's Death Prompts New Procedures for Border Agency"
257:
246:
30:
in December 2018, after having entered the country, by crossing the border between
602:"Autopsy For 7-Year-Old Migrant Who Died In U.S. Custody Shows She Died Of Sepsis"
104:
Caal and her father, 29-year-old Nery Caal, came from the indigenous community of
804:"US borders 'pushed to a breaking point by those who seek open borders': Nielsen"
335:
asserted that the failure of the Trump Administration to report this death was a
332:
238:
200:
460:"Guatemalan boy who died in U.S. custody had the flu, medical investigator says"
250:
226:
133:
880:
561:"The body of the 7-year-old girl who died in US custody returns to Guatemala"
274:
160:
140:
109:
77:
62:
42:
35:
789:"Doctors question medical care given to migrant boy who died Christmas Eve"
639:"Autopsy shows eight-year-old Guatemalan boy who died at US border had flu"
298:
261:
688:"Opinion: What The Death Of A 7-Year-Old Migrant Says About This Country"
328:
265:
230:
184:
164:
69:
54:
105:
346:
As of May 2019, six migrant children had died while in U.S. custody.
188:
117:
81:
168:
672:
624:
493:
336:
410:
Ainsley, Julia; Soboroff, Jacob; Perry, Cal (December 15, 2018).
279:
144:
129:
322:
268:
opened on a story on the death by saying, "I do not doubt that
121:
31:
583:"New details about 7-year-old migrant girl's death in custody"
621:"AP FACT CHECK: Trump twists facts of a migrant girl's death"
867:"Trump tries to blame Democrats for migrant children deaths"
559:
Grinberg, Emanuella; Mendoza, Michelle (December 23, 2018).
199:
Caal's death drew responses from high-profile figures, with
740:"8-year-old Guatemalan boy dies in US custody on Christmas"
278:
responded with a string of replies criticizing Simon on
147:
report was released finding that the cause of death was
87:
Both deaths sparked controversy, with some blaming the
84:, a condition that was confirmed only after his death.
253:, protesters demanded that the death be investigated.
483:
481:
479:
477:
475:
473:
753:
Valencia, Nick; Levenson, Eric (December 26, 2018).
434:"The immigrants who have died in US custody in 2018"
409:
532:
530:
528:
310:Trump further claimed in his tweet that building a
80:. He was diagnosed with a cold, but not tested for
802:Flaherty, Anne; Gutman, Matt (December 26, 2018).
470:
301:addressed the issue for the first time, tweeting:
159:Gómez Alonzo and his father, Agustin Gómez, were
878:
752:
525:
89:immigration policies of the Trump Administration
845:"Trump blames child border deaths on Democrats"
661:
659:
558:
377:
375:
373:
371:
120:. In December 2018, they entered the U.S. from
801:
537:Kates, Graham; Canales, Angel (May 22, 2019).
902:Deaths in police custody in the United States
615:
613:
611:
381:
323:Further revelations of immigrant child deaths
665:
656:
536:
508:
506:
504:
382:Brice-Saddler, Michael (December 15, 2018).
368:
738:McLaughlin, Eliott C. (December 25, 2018).
737:
608:
554:
552:
512:
139:Caal's body was transported by plane from
907:December 2018 events in the United States
838:
836:
501:
312:wall between the United States and Mexico
795:
599:
576:
574:
572:
570:
427:
425:
887:2018 controversies in the United States
860:
858:
711:
549:
453:
451:
449:
447:
879:
842:
833:
820:
787:Cohen, Elizabeth (December 27, 2018).
581:Linton, Caroline (December 15, 2018).
580:
515:"This might be Trump's worst cover-up"
497:. Associated Press. December 28, 2018.
431:
167:, a settlement in the municipality of
154:
72:boy from the Guatemalan department of
897:Deaths by person in the United States
786:
768:Silva, Daniella (December 26, 2018).
767:
567:
458:Silva, Daniella (December 27, 2018).
457:
422:
405:
403:
401:
399:
356:Death of Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejía
864:
855:
821:Jordan, Miriam (December 26, 2018).
600:Van Sant, Shannon (March 30, 2019).
444:
187:and a fever, but was not tested for
136:, where she died the following day.
865:Basu, Zachary (December 29, 2018).
666:O'Connor, Tom (December 14, 2018).
68:Gómez Alonzo was an eight-year-old
13:
917:Trump administration controversies
843:Fritze, John (December 29, 2018).
712:Schwarz, Jon (December 16, 2018).
432:Durkin, Erin (December 29, 2018).
396:
270:U.S. Customs and Border Protection
14:
928:
513:Obeidallah, Dean (May 26, 2019).
94:
20:Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin
814:
780:
761:
746:
731:
705:
680:
631:
593:
99:
16:2018 deaths of migrant children
288:American Academy of Pediatrics
22:(2011 – December 8, 2018) and
1:
361:
341:2018 United States elections
256:Homeland Security Secretary
194:
7:
912:United States Border Patrol
349:
28:United States Border Patrol
10:
933:
339:intended to influence the
315:admitted blame". However,
126:Antelope Wells, New Mexico
41:Caal was a seven-year-old
225:The letter was signed by
163:-speaking migrants from
171:, in the department of
308:
223:
209:
181:Alamogordo, New Mexico
303:
243:Lucille Roybal-Allard
218:
205:
47:Guatemalan department
214:Trump Administration
149:streptococcal sepsis
389:The Washington Post
177:1960–1996 civil war
155:Felipe Gómez Alonzo
24:Felipe Gómez Alonzo
827:The New York Times
627:. March 30, 2019.
924:
871:
870:
862:
853:
852:
840:
831:
830:
818:
812:
811:
799:
793:
792:
784:
778:
777:
765:
759:
758:
750:
744:
743:
735:
729:
728:
726:
724:
709:
703:
702:
700:
698:
684:
678:
677:
663:
654:
653:
651:
649:
635:
629:
628:
617:
606:
605:
597:
591:
590:
578:
565:
564:
556:
547:
546:
534:
523:
522:
510:
499:
498:
485:
468:
467:
455:
442:
441:
429:
420:
419:
407:
394:
393:
379:
258:Kirstjen Nielsen
932:
931:
927:
926:
925:
923:
922:
921:
877:
876:
875:
874:
863:
856:
841:
834:
819:
815:
800:
796:
785:
781:
766:
762:
751:
747:
736:
732:
722:
720:
710:
706:
696:
694:
686:
685:
681:
664:
657:
647:
645:
643:The Independent
637:
636:
632:
619:
618:
609:
598:
594:
579:
568:
557:
550:
535:
526:
511:
502:
487:
486:
471:
456:
445:
430:
423:
408:
397:
380:
369:
364:
352:
333:Dean Obeidallah
325:
239:Pramila Jayapal
201:Hillary Clinton
197:
157:
102:
97:
17:
12:
11:
5:
930:
920:
919:
914:
909:
904:
899:
894:
889:
873:
872:
854:
832:
813:
794:
779:
760:
745:
730:
704:
679:
655:
630:
607:
592:
566:
548:
524:
500:
469:
443:
421:
395:
366:
365:
363:
360:
359:
358:
351:
348:
324:
321:
251:El Paso, Texas
245:. Congressman
235:Joaquín Castro
227:Jerrold Nadler
196:
193:
156:
153:
134:El Paso, Texas
101:
98:
96:
93:
53:who died from
45:girl from the
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
929:
918:
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
893:
890:
888:
885:
884:
882:
868:
861:
859:
850:
846:
839:
837:
828:
824:
817:
809:
805:
798:
790:
783:
775:
771:
764:
756:
749:
741:
734:
719:
715:
708:
693:
689:
683:
675:
674:
669:
662:
660:
644:
640:
634:
626:
622:
616:
614:
612:
603:
596:
588:
584:
577:
575:
573:
571:
562:
555:
553:
544:
540:
533:
531:
529:
520:
516:
509:
507:
505:
496:
495:
490:
484:
482:
480:
478:
476:
474:
465:
461:
454:
452:
450:
448:
439:
435:
428:
426:
417:
413:
406:
404:
402:
400:
391:
390:
385:
378:
376:
374:
372:
367:
357:
354:
353:
347:
344:
342:
338:
334:
330:
320:
318:
313:
307:
302:
300:
295:
291:
289:
283:
281:
277:
276:
275:The Intercept
271:
267:
263:
259:
254:
252:
248:
247:Beto O'Rourke
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
222:
217:
215:
208:
204:
202:
192:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
173:Huehuetenango
170:
166:
162:
152:
150:
146:
142:
141:Laredo, Texas
137:
135:
131:
127:
124:, outside of
123:
119:
115:
111:
107:
95:Circumstances
92:
90:
85:
83:
79:
78:Christmas Eve
75:
74:Huehuetenango
71:
66:
64:
63:liver failure
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
39:
37:
36:United States
33:
29:
25:
21:
892:Child deaths
848:
826:
816:
807:
797:
782:
773:
763:
748:
733:
723:December 17,
721:. Retrieved
717:
707:
697:December 17,
695:. Retrieved
691:
682:
671:
648:February 26,
646:. Retrieved
642:
633:
595:
586:
542:
518:
492:
463:
438:The Guardian
437:
415:
387:
345:
326:
316:
309:
304:
299:Donald Trump
294:The Guardian
293:
292:
284:
273:
262:Hogan Gidley
255:
224:
219:
210:
206:
198:
158:
138:
114:Alta Verapaz
103:
100:Jakelin Caal
86:
76:who died on
67:
51:Alta Verapaz
40:
23:
19:
18:
329:El Salvador
266:Scott Simon
231:Zoe Lofgren
185:common cold
165:Yalambojoch
55:dehydration
881:Categories
362:References
306:illegally.
203:tweeting:
112:region of
849:USA Today
195:Responses
189:influenza
118:Guatemala
82:influenza
869:. Axios.
808:ABC News
774:NBC news
718:@schwarz
673:Newsweek
625:Fox News
587:CBS News
543:CBS News
494:NBC News
464:NBC News
416:NBC News
350:See also
337:cover-up
317:Fox News
130:seizures
110:Qʼeqchiʼ
43:Qʼeqchiʼ
34:and the
692:NPR.org
280:Twitter
145:autopsy
106:Raxruhá
791:. CNN.
757:. CNN.
742:. CNN.
604:. NPR.
563:. CNN.
241:, and
221:death.
169:Nentón
122:Mexico
32:Mexico
59:shock
725:2018
699:2018
650:2019
161:Chuj
108:, a
70:Chuj
61:and
519:CNN
49:of
883::
857:^
847:.
835:^
825:.
806:.
772:.
716:.
690:.
670:.
658:^
641:.
623:.
610:^
585:.
569:^
551:^
541:.
527:^
517:.
503:^
491:.
472:^
462:.
446:^
436:.
424:^
414:.
398:^
386:.
370:^
282:.
237:,
233:,
229:,
116:,
57:,
38:.
851:.
829:.
810:.
776:.
727:.
701:.
676:.
652:.
589:.
545:.
521:.
466:.
440:.
418:.
392:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.