A 16-year-old Guatemalan boy died Monday while in the custody of U.S. immigration authorities.
After crossing the border illegally, the teenager was taken into custody in Texas on May 13, according to a statement from Customs and Border Protection. The death of the teenage migrant follows the April 30 death of another 16-year-old migrant.
Once the teen was apprehended near Hidalgo, Texas, he was brought to a processing center and then transferred to the Weslaco Border Patrol Station Sunday. He was due to be placed with the Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement but was found unresponsive Monday morning during a welfare check.
The cause of death is not known, and the identity of the teen has not been released. CBP says it is reviewing the circumstances of the death.
“The men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are saddened by the tragic loss of this young man and our condolences are with his family. CBP is committed to the health, safety and humane treatment of those in our custody,” CBP Acting Commissioner John Sanders said.
Members of Congress have been notified of the death.
