SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. (WFLA) — A 17-year-old boy from Honduras died in U.S. immigration custody in Safety Harbor, according to U.S., Honduran, and local officials.
On Thursday, Enrique Reina, the Honduran Secretary of Exterior Relations and International Cooperation, tweeted that 17-year-old Ángel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza died in a facility in Safety Harbor.
“The Government of the President @XiomaraCastroZ laments and offers its condolences for the death of the 17-year-old Honduran minor Ángel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza, which occurred in a shelter located in Safety Harbor, Florida, USA,” Reina wrote.
An anonymous U.S. source told the Associated Press that Angel entered the states weeks ago.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed the death of a 17-year-old boy at the Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services shelter, although they did not identify the minor.
According to the JFCS’ website, the organization helps international refugees with resettlement and self-sufficiency, among numerous other services.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also sent out a statement saying that the Office of Refuge Resettlement was reviewing the details surrounding the teen’s death.
Meanwhile, the Honduran government said it was in contact with Angel’s family and asked the ORR and HHS to evaluate the minor’s death and “apply the full weight of the law” if necessary.
“This terrible fact underscores the importance of working together on the bilateral migration agenda on the situation of unaccompanied minors, to find solutions, an issue that has been addressed by the President @XiomaraCastroZ at various levels with the US,” Reina wrote.
According to the Associated Press, this is the first known immigrant child death that occurred in federal custody under President Joe Biden. Under President Donald Trump, six immigrant children died in U.S. custody.
Sen. Rick Scott, who represents Florida, wrote on Twitter that he was horrified by the news.
“This horrific news made me immediately think of my own grandkids,” Scott said. “I can’t imagine losing one of them. We need answers from @HHSGov and @DHSGov NOW. The loss and suffering caused by this border crisis are 100% preventable. @POTUS– please end this and SECURE THE BORDER.”
The Florida Department of Children said it is ready to assist in the investigation, but said the oversight of the facility is solely the jurisdiction of the federal government.
“In 2021, we communicated the need to have an agreement with the federal government that would require enhanced oversight and accountability for the health and welfare of youth entering the country and being placed in these facilities,” said Mallory McManus, deputy chief of staff. “However, the Biden administration failed to work with the State, and we refused to license facilities we could not guarantee were safe.”
The Associated Press reported that over 8,600 children are in HHS custody, which is expected to spike in the next few weeks. When a child crosses the border without a parent, they are held in long-term facilities until they can get a sponsor.
