Border Patrol Closes South Texas Facility That Detained Migrant Who Later Died
HOUSTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — U.S. border agents have temporarily closed their primary facility for processing migrants in South Texas one day after authorities say a 16-year-old boy died after being diagnosed with the flu at the facility.
In a statement released late Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it would stop detaining migrants at its processing center in McAllen, Texas. CBP says "a large number" of people in custody were found Tuesday to have high fevers. The agency says it is working to provide medical treatment to all those with fevers.
CBP said Monday that a teenager from Guatemala died after being detained at the facility for six days, twice as long as generally allowed by U.S. law. After being diagnosed with the flu on Sunday, Carlos Hernandez Vasquez was transferred to a smaller Border Patrol facility, where he was found unresponsive Monday; one hour after workers claim to have performed a welfare check.
Migrants apprehended in the Rio Grande Valley will be held at other locations until the situation is resolved, the agency said.
The processing center is a converted warehouse that holds hundreds of parents and children at a time in large, fenced-in pens.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)