Family mourns 7-year-old girl who died in US custody

CNN — Jakelin Caal Maquin jumped up and down when her father told her they’re leaving their impoverished Guatemalan village for the United States. The observations were made and there was no indication that she had any health conditions.” The girl and her father were held at the port of entry in a facility with access to food, water and restrooms, CBP says, as they waited to be taken on the only bus available to the closest Border Patrol station – about 95 miles away in Lordsburg, New Mexico. “Border Patrol Agents, including trained Emergency Medical Technicians did everything in their power to provide emergency medical assistance for Jakelin Caal Maquin immediately after her father notified the agents of her distress,” CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in a statement. CBP said it did not issue a statement about the child’s death “out of respect to the family of the deceased.” The agency is “currently reviewing its public disclosure and notification policy related to deaths in our custody.” The initial indication from the Providence Hospital is that she passed as a result of sepsis shock. ‘Worst possible outcome’ In a statement, Cynthia Pompa, advocacy manager for the ACLU Border Rights Center, called for “a rigorous investigation into how this tragedy happened and serious reforms to prevent future deaths.” The girl’s death comes months after a toddler died six weeks after being released from an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility in Dilley, Texas.