An attorney for the father of the 7-year-old Guatemalan immigrant who died in U.S. custody last week disputes claims that she had not been able to consume food or water for days before crossing illegally into the U.S.
“She had not suffered from a lack of water or food prior to approaching the border,” an attorney for Jakelin Caal’s father, who had crossed illegally with his daughter and about 160 other migrants, said.
Jakelin’s family speaks out amid controversy, the 7-year-old died in border patrol custody. Her father saying reports that she had not been given food or water for days are not true, @gabegutierrez reports. pic.twitter.com/tYTcp43vHh
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 17, 2018
The Department of Homeland Security says that her death is attributed to septic shock and dehydration. The family and advocates, however, question why it took so long for her to receive medical attention once she began vomiting hours after crossing into the U.S.
The family is calling for a full investigation into her death.
Eight hours after being taken into custody, Caal began to have a seizure, according to Customs and Border Protection records. The girl “reportedly had not eaten or consumed water for several days.”
“After completing a days-long, dangerous journey through remote and barren terrain, the child, who according to the father had not been able to consume water or food for days, began vomiting, went into sepsis shock and after receiving emergency treatment from U.S. Border Patrol Emergency Response Technicians (EMTs), air paramedics and emergency room personnel, died,” DHS said in a statement on her death.
While testifying before Congress last week, CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said areas where illegal immigrants are taken into federal custody were designed and built to handle adult men traveling alone.
“Our border patrol stations and ports of entry were meant to handle mostly male single adults, not families or children,” McAleenan said.
Caal’s father said that he believes officials did everything they could to try and save his daughter.
