U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday denied a report circulating on Twitter that a child died in the agency’s custody at a South Texas immigration detention facility.
Mana Yegani, a Houston-based immigration attorney, tweeted that the child died “as a result of possible negligent care” after contracting a disease from another detainee at the Family Residential Center in Dilley, south of San Antonio. Her initial tweet suggested that the death occurred at the facility.
ICE immediately rejected the claim, tweeting, “Reports that a child died in ICE custody at Dilley are false.”
Ms. Yegani later clarified that the reported death allegedly occurred after the child’s detention, not during.
Update: The child died following her stay at an ICE Detention Center, as a result of possible negligent care and a respiratory illness she contracted from one of the other children.
— Mana Yegani (@Law_Mana) August 1, 2018
The events took place in Dilley Family Detention Center in south Texas.
If they ask for a visa, the US government won’t give them one. If they stay in their country their kids get killed by the gangs. So they are damned if they try to come the legal or illegal way.
— Mana Yegani (@Law_Mana) August 1, 2018
Pressed for more information, Ms. Yegani tweeted an apparent screenshot of a private message from a lawyer named Melissa who had been dealing with the family of the child. Ms. Yegani said she had not been able to get in contact with the family directly.
A lawyer who is in touch with the family is saying the child who died, her grandmother is in New Jersey. Reporters are in touch with her to get more details.
— Mana Yegani (@Law_Mana) August 1, 2018
This is a statement from the attorney who informed me of this tragic death. She a friend of the victim’s family and she is the one in touch with them. I don’t have any direct contact with the victim’s family. See below the image of her message that was posted on Facebook. pic.twitter.com/ISOCRQBend
— Mana Yegani (@Law_Mana) August 1, 2018
Last night a lawyer in Wash DC, posted on FB, seeking recommendations for a lawyer to represent a family whose child died AFTER her stay at Dilley Detention Cntr in TX. I made the news public.I am in touch with Melissa-the lawyer, but have no confirmation from the victim’s family
— Mana Yegani (@Law_Mana) August 1, 2018
ICE said it is investigating the claim.
“The updated accusation leaves little to no info that allows us to research,” the agency said in a statement. “We are looking into the report of the death after custody, but without any specifics about who this was we are unable to provide anything further at this time.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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