WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials revealed that a 16-year-old migrant boy from Guatemala died in their custody, the fifth since December to die after being detained at the U.S.-Mexico border. Today’s death comes just a week after a 2-year-old Guatemalan boy died, further calling into question the Trump administration’s treatment of children within the U.S. immigration system.

“The Trump administration’s claim that they are committed to the health, safety, and humane treatment of children are in vain. Every few weeks we hear a heartbreaking report of another child in their custody dying from pneumonia or dehydration,” said Karl Frisch, a spokesperson for Restore Public Trust. “Instead of accepting responsibility for the deaths of children, the administration has blamed migrant families for making a perilous journey to seek asylum at our border. It is time for Congress to force transparency on the Trump administration’s practices at the border before another child is put in danger.”

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