A 45-year-old Mexican national detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection died Monday at a medical facility in McAllen, Tex., after twice seeking medical attention, the agency reported.
The fatality followed the deaths in December of two migrant children in government custody, which prompted a vow from CBP to conduct health checks on all children in its “care and custody,” as the agency’s commissioner, Kevin K. McAleenan, said at the time. The fate of those two children, both from Guatemala, renewed concerns about the “zero-tolerance” immigration policy pursued by President Trump.
Another death is likely to raise fresh questions for the border control organization at the forefront of that policy, especially as the president crusades for a wall at the southern border. Trump’s critics point to a humanitarian crisis fomented by his own hard-line approach, rather than a crisis of illegal entries that he falsely claims is overwhelming the Southwestern United States.
According to a statement Monday from the agency, the unnamed adult was apprehended on Feb. 2 for “illegal reentry,” which means the individual had tried to enter the country at least once before. The migrant came into contact with authorities near a port of entry in Roma, Tex., about 50 miles northwest of McAllen.
The detainee requested medical attention and was transported to a hospital in Mission, Tex., adjacent to McAllen. The same day, the individual was cleared to travel and sent back to a CBP station in Rio Grande City, close to Roma.
On Feb. 3, the detainee again requested medical attention, and, according to CBP, was transported to the McAllen Medical Center “shortly thereafter.” The Mexican national was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and congestive heart failure and remained at the 441-bed hospital from Feb. 3 until dying just before 9 a.m. Monday.
