AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A 3-year-old boy riding one of Texas’ immigrant buses died en route to Chicago, authorities said Friday, the first time the state has announced a death since began moving thousands of migrants from the US-Mexico border last year.
Texas authorities confirmed the death of a child in a statement Friday, but did not say where the child was from or why he became ill. The Illinois Department of Public Health said the boy was 3 years old and died Thursday in Marion County, in the southern part of that state.
“Every loss of life is a tragedy,” the Texas Division of Emergency Management said in a statement. “Once the child presented health problems, the bus stopped and security personnel on board called 9-1-1 for emergency care.”
The boy received treatment from paramedics and later died at a hospital, according to the agency. The bus left from the Texas border city of Brownsville. State officials said all passengers had their temperatures taken and were asked if they had any medical conditions.
Spokesmen for the Texas emergency management agency did not immediately respond to questions seeking additional details on Friday.
Illinois officials said in a statement that they were working with health officials, state police and federal authorities “to the greatest extent possible to obtain answers in this tragic situation.”
Texas has bused more than 30,000 migrants to Democratic-controlled cities in the US since last year as part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s sprawling border mission known as Operation Lone Star. besides chicagobuses have also been sent to Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, and The Angels.