HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the death of an 8-year-old boy from Guatemala who U.S. officials say has died in government custody (all times local):
6:30 p.m.
A Guatemala official says he was told by the father of an 8-year-old boy who died in U.S. custody that the two had been traveling from their home in the Central American country to Tennessee, and that his son had been in “perfect health.”
Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, also confirmed Tuesday that the boy’s name was Felix Gomez Alonzo.
The consul says he interviewed the father, 47-year-old Agustin Gomez, by telephone.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the boy died shortly after midnight on Christmas.
CBP says the boy was taken Monday with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he was diagnosed with a cold and a fever, and released.
The agency says the boy was returned to the hospital Monday evening with nausea and vomiting. He died hours later.
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12:20 p.m.
U.S. immigration authorities say an 8-year-old boy from Guatemala has died in government custody, the second immigrant child to die in detention this month.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the boy died shortly after midnight Tuesday.
CBP says the boy showed “signs of potential illness” Monday and was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico. There, CBP says, he was diagnosed with a cold and a fever. He was given medications and released Monday afternoon.
The agency says the boy was returned to the hospital Monday evening with nausea and vomiting. He died just hours later.
A CBP spokesman declined to elaborate Tuesday, but said details will be released shortly.
A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died earlier this month after being apprehended by border agents.