Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials handed the unnamed boy over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) on April 20, Evelyn Stauffer, a spokesperson for the Administration of Children and Families, told The Hill in a statement.
Customs and Border Protection clinicians did not observe any health concerns when transferring the boy from the shelter, nor did they observe any upon arrival, according to Stauffer.
The 16-year-old became “noticeably ill, including fever, chills and a headache”, on the morning of April 21 and was treated at a hospital emergency department that day and released back to the shelter by the end of the day.
When his health did not improve upon his release, an ambulance transported him to another emergency department the next morning. He was transferred to a children’s hospital in Texas on April 22 and treated for several days in the intensive care unit before dying on April 30, Stauffer said.
“Arrangements were made for the minor’s brother and Guatemalan consular officials to visit the minor while he was hospitalized. The family who resides in the home country received frequent updates from hospital staff,” Stauffer stated, adding, “The cause of death is currently under review and, in accordance with standard ORR policies and procedures, the case will be subject to a full review.”
The case comes after other migrants previously died in US custody.
Two Guatemalan migrant children, an 8-year-old boy who had developed a fever and a 7-year-old girl who experienced dehydration and shock, died in CBP custody in December.