Following child’s death, group opposes handling of migrants

Following the death of a Guatemalan migrant girl in the custody of the federal government, a group of El Paso residents is demanding the improved treatment of migrants.

“There’s very many people who have died here trying to immigrate to the United States,” said Marissa Elyse Sanchez, the organizer of the small event. “People are forced to come through some of the most dangerous avenues possible.

As ABC-7 reported, 7-year-old Jakelin Caal died 48 hours after she was detained by the United States Border Patrol with her father while attempting to cross illegally into New Mexico.

The protest for better care of migrants had signs that read “Justice for Jakelin Caal” and “No more deaths at the border.”

“The way that border patrol is taught to think of these immigrants as criminals, and as really less than human, I can only imagine that there is really no way that they are treating families like Jakelin’s with the dignity and the respect they deserve,” Sanchez said.

The small event was organized by the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Fewer than a dozen people were in attendance.

Sanchez told ABC-7 her group was not accusing the federal government of directly causing Caal’s Death, but she said border officials need to improve treatment of migrants as a whole.

“We the people, demand that the militarization of the border be ceased,” Sanchez said.