The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently reassigned its medical director following the death of an immigrant child in its custody, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
The agency has reassigned Chief Medical Officer David Tarantino to a temporary assignment starting next week amid an investigation it launched into the death of an 8-year-old girl in Border Patrol custody. according to to the post. The tragedy occurred along the southern border in Harlingen, Texas, after a child experienced a medical emergency while in custody for nine days, according to CBP. Said In May, it added that it had launched an investigation into the matter. (Related: Top Republican Rep. Releases Initial Findings of Mayorcas ‘Negligence of Duties’ Investigation)
Border guards can hold migrants for up to 72 hours. according to to federal law.
(Photo credit: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
“CBP is committed to implementing needed improvements to health care policies and processes, including an ongoing investigation into the tragic custodial death of a child in Harlingen, and will drive action across the agency. We are convening additional senior leaders to help,” CBP said. told the Post.
The mother of the deceased child says she believes federal officials are responsible for her daughter’s death, which occurred shortly after she was diagnosed with the flu. Said The Associated Press reported after the tragic incident.
“They killed her because she couldn’t breathe for almost a day and a half,” the mother said. “She cried and begged for her life, but they ignored her. They did nothing for her.”
Neither CBP nor the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded to requests for comment.
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