The news of an 8-year old child migrant from Central America dying in the custody of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has sent shockwaves throughout the country. The child was seen by medical staff 11 times, yet he was not provided with proper care that could have potentially saved his life. An internal investigation has revealed that procedures were not followed, leading to a likely preventable tragedy.
As a nation built on the values of freedom and humanity, it is devastating to hear that those who come seeking refuge are not given the care and compassion they deserve. The CBP, an agency responsible for protecting the borders of our country, has failed in its duty to protect the life of an innocent child. The death of this child serves as a reminder of the broken system that continues to fail those who need it the most.
It is clear that changes to procedures need to be made, as the acting head of the agency has acknowledged. However, this tragedy raises larger questions about the treatment of migrants and refugees in our country. How many others have experienced similar neglect and lack of care? How can we, as a society, ensure that those seeking refuge in our country are met with compassion and humanity?
This child was failed by the system that was meant to protect him. As a nation, we must take responsibility for our failures and work towards a system that values human life and dignity above all. May we honor the memory of this child by working towards a future where tragedies like this never occur again.
