Immigration officials: Migrant child dies on Christmas Day in Alamogordo

Just weeks after the death of a 7-year-old migrant girl, officials confirm an 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died on Christmas Day at an Alamogordo hospital in the custody of Customs and Border Protection.

The name of the boy who died is 8-year-old Felipe Alonzo-Gomez, confirmed U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro, the chairman-elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

“We must ensure that we treat migrants and asylum-seekers with human dignity and provide the necessary medical care to anyone in the custody of the United States government,” Castro said in a written statement. “Congress should investigate this tragedy upon its return to session.”

According to the Associated Press, the boy showed “signs of potential illness” on Christmas Eve. At the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, he was diagnosed with a cold and a fever. His symptoms included nausea and vomiting.

Alonzo-Gomez was released with medication, but returned later that evening, according to immigration officials. He died just after midnight on Christmas Day.

“It’s just tragic,” said U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke, who represents El Paso. “We’re thinking about his family right now. Just, what they must be feeling to have lost their child on Christmas Day.”​

O’Rourke is also calling for an investigation into the boy’s death.

“It’s very troubling to me,” O’Rourke told ABC-7. “You have two children who have died in CBP custody just over the past month.”