A 17-year-old Honduran boy died while in the custody of U.S. immigration on May 10 while being detained at a facility in Safety Harbor, Florida.
American and Honduran officials confirmed the death on May 12, one day after Title 42 asylum restrictions ended.
Maradiaga entered the United States a few weeks ago, but neither the cause of death nor the circumstances of any sickness or medical treatment were immediately available.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who were responsible for the facility where Maradiaga was detained, said in a statement that a review of his medical records and a medical examiner’s investigation were ongoing.
“As is standard practice for any situation involving the death of an unaccompanied child or a serious health outcome, HHS' Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Division of Health for Unaccompanied Children (DHUC) is reviewing all clinical details of this case, including all inpatient health care records,” HHS said. “A medical examiner investigation is underway.
“Due to privacy and safety reasons, ORR cannot share further information on individual cases of children who have been in our care,” the department said. “While in ORR care, children have access to health care, legal services, translation services, and mental and behavioral health counselors and are able to connect with family through a phone call in a private area at a minimum of twice a week.”
However, Jean-Pierre said she had not spoken to President Joe Biden on the issue, and she was unsure if he had been briefed on the death.
When reporters in the briefing pressed about why HHS has not updated the number of children currently in their custody since January despite previous monthly reports, Jean-Pierre said that information was outside of her purview.
“It’s not who we are. And silence is complicity. It’s on all of us to stand up and speak out. America is a nation of immigrants. We must guarantee everyone’s treated with dignity.”
HHS responded to The Epoch Times’s inquiry, saying: “The seventeen-year-old unaccompanied minor from Honduras was referred to HHS care on May 5 and placed at the Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services in Safety Harbor, Florida.
“As is standard practice for any situation involving the death of an unaccompanied minor or a serious health outcome, ORR’s Unaccompanied Children Program’s Monitoring Team and Division of Health are closely reviewing the case.”
