8-Year-Old Migrant Boy Dies in Custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Published December 25, 2018

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — An 8-year-old Guatemalan child in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) died early Christmas morning at a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

The boy’s death is the second death of a Guatemalan child while in custody of CBP in the past two-and-half weeks.

The boy was treated for a common cold on Monday, according to a CBP news release.

On Christmas afternoon, the boy was identified as Felipe Alonzo-Gomez by Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), the incoming chairman-elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

“Many questions remain unanswered, including how many children have died in CBP custody,” commented Castro.