Migrant Claims Daughter Died from Virus at South Texas Detention Center: ‘Watching My Daughter Die’!
CNS News–In a heart-wrenching testimony in San Antonio federal court, Yazmin Juárez Coyoy, a Guatemalan immigrant, shared the devastating story of her daughter’s fatal illness, which she attributes to the conditions at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. In March 2018, Juárez claimed her daughter, Mariee Camyl Newberry Juárez, contracted severe lung infections due to the overcrowded environment at the detention facility, ultimately leading to the young child’s death.
Yazmin Juárez, now in her mid-20s, took the stand as the principal witness in the trial, recounting the harrowing events that unfolded after she and her daughter were detained. She detailed how they were placed in a housing unit with 10 others—five mothers and their children.
Juárez noted that one of the children, who slept close to them, was visibly ill. Within days, her daughter Mariee began showing symptoms of illness. Despite multiple visits to the facility’s medical staff, Mariee’s condition only worsened. Juárez testified that her daughter was running a fever as high as 104 degrees and suffered from a cough, congestion, diarrhea, and vomiting.
She expressed her frustration and desperation as the medical care provided appeared insufficient, with her daughter’s health rapidly deteriorating. The situation turned dire after immigration authorities released them after 20 days in detention. Mariee’s health continued to decline, leading to six weeks of hospitalization across three hospitals.
‘I was watching my daughter die’; Immigrant testifies that daughter died after catching viruses in South Texas detention facility https://t.co/W5tB98ADNf
— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews) February 6, 2024
The viruses she contracted had caused irreparable damage to her lungs. On May 10, 2018, which poignantly coincides with Mother’s Day in Guatemala, Juárez faced the unimaginable decision to disconnect the life support machines keeping her daughter alive. Juárez’s testimony not only highlights the personal tragedy she endured but also casts a spotlight on the broader issues related to the conditions of immigration detention facilities.
The Dilley facility, operated by CoreCivic under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), opened in 2014 to house women and children immigrants. Juárez has filed a lawsuit against CoreCivic, seeking up to $40 million in damages, alleging that the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at the facility contributed to her daughter’s death.
Furthermore, Juárez has also taken legal action against ICE in New Jersey, arguing that the medical treatment provided at the Dilley facility was grossly inadequate. Her lawsuit contends that the medical staff failed to properly document Mariee’s symptoms or conduct a thorough examination before clearing her for travel, which directly contributed to the child’s death.
Juárez’s journey to the United States began under dire circumstances. Fleeing domestic violence in Guatemala, she hoped to find safety and a new start for her and her daughter. Their journey to the U.S.-Mexico border involved crossing the Rio Grande and turning themselves into the Border Patrol in hopes of seeking asylum.
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Initially detained in a facility detainees call “La Hielera” (the icebox), they were later transferred to the Dilley detention center, where Mariee’s health took a fatal turn. The trial, presided over by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, is set to continue throughout the week.
It not only seeks justice for Mariee but also brings to the fore the critical issues surrounding the treatment of immigrants and the conditions within detention centers. Juárez’s poignant testimony sheds light on the human cost of these policies and practices, challenging both the private operators of such facilities and the federal agencies overseeing immigration detention.