Medical Center in New Mexico where an 8-year-old Guatemalan migrant child died on 25 December

WORLD

Migrant children are receiving medical checks

Following the deaths of a seven year old Guatemalan girl and an eight year old Guatemalan boy in December, US Immigration Officials confirm that stringent and thorough medical checks are being undertaken on nearly every child in the care of the Customs and Border Protection.

By James Blears

The results of the medical checks on most of the detained migrant children have not yet been made public. They especially extend to children found in the more remote and harsh terrain of the badlands on the Border. Both of the deaths of the Guatemalan children, are being thoroughly investigated.

Border Protection Custody is seeking the additional help of other Government Agencies to provide adequate cover. They say that in just the month of November 5,283 accompanied or lone children have been detained. The number for December is expected to appreciably exceed this. Most children and adults only remain a few days with this sector, and are then sent to longer term immigration service holding areas. The issue of suffer the little children, is turning into a major crisis amidst the migration exodus.

Listen to James Blears' report