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14-05-2023
TALLAHASSEE: The United States government has confirmed that an unaccompanied minor from Honduras died in its custody earlier this week, amid heightened scrutiny on immigration as the controversial border-expulsion policy Title 42 expires.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a statement on Friday acknowledging the death of 17-year-old Angel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza on May 10. He had been discovered unconscious at a migrant shelter in Safety Harbor, Florida, and after resuscitation attempts at a local hospital, he was pronounced dead.
The 17-year-old’s passing is the first known death under the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden of a youth migrant or asylum seeker in government custody. An estimated six children died in custody under his predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, with several succumbing after falling ill and one after contracting sepsis.
In a statement about Maradiaga Espinoza’s death, the department said it was “deeply saddened by this tragic loss”. The statement explained that HHS was in contact with Maradiaga Espinoza’s family and that it was “reviewing all clinical details of this case, including all inpatient health care records”.
“A medical examiner investigation is underway,” it added. The cause of death was not immediately identified.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefly addressed the death during her Friday press briefing, acknowledging that the medical investigation was opened on May 10. “Being a mother and celebrating Mother’s Day on Sunday, it is very devastating news,” she said.
The remarks come a day after Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina posted about the teenager’s death on Twitter, calling on the US government to “carry out an exhaustive investigation of the case” and to “apply the full weight of the law” if wrongdoing is found.
“This terrible event underscores the importance of working together on the bilateral migration agenda with regards to the situation of unaccompanied minors, to find solutions,” Reina wrote. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
