Global Courant 2023-05-12 23:57:57
A 17-year-old Honduran named Ángel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza died in the US.
The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the death of a migrant in US custody, but did not disclose where the minor died.
A Honduran official identified the migrant as 17-year-old Honduran Ángel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza and said he was at a shelter in Safety Harbor, Florida. Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina called for an “exhaustive investigation” into the death.
“The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is deeply saddened by this tragic loss and our hearts go out to the family we are in contact with,” it said.
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Migrants walk into the Rio Grande from the river bank on Thursday as they cross to enter the US in Matamoros, Mexico. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The message continued, “As is standard practice for any situation involving the death of an unaccompanied child or a serious health problem, HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Division of Health for Unaccompanied Children (DHUC) is reviewing all clinical details. of this case, including all inpatient medical records. An investigation by a medical examiner is underway.”
The HHS is withholding information about the deceased migrant youths, citing safety concerns.
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The United States Department of Health and Human Services building is shown in Washington, DC (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
“For privacy and security reasons, ORR is unable to share further information about individual cases of children who have been in our care,” the department said.
It added: “While in ORR care, children have access to health care, legal services, translation services and mental and behavioral health counselors and can contact family at least twice a week via a phone call in a private room. “
This aerial image, taken Thursday, shows clothing discarded by migrants on the U.S. side of the border, opposite a migrant camp in Brownsville, Texas, Mexico. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the news of the death “deeply saddening.”
“We are certainly aware of the tragic loss and our thoughts go out to the family,” said Jean-Pierre.
Jean-Pierre added that she had not spoken to President Biden about the death and that she did not know if she had been notified of the death.
“There is a medical examination open on May 10, so I don’t want to prejudge that,” she said. “We must let the investigation continue.”
Prior to taking office, Biden was sharply critical of the US government’s record of migrant deaths under their watch.
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“In the past year, six children have tragically died in US custody at the border. It is unacceptable,” Biden said in 2019. “It’s not who we are. And silence is complicity. It’s up to all of us to stand up and speak up. America is a nation of immigrants. We must ensure that everyone is treated with dignity.”
Fox News’ Sarah Tobianski contributed to this report.
Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi and email him at [email protected]
