AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A three-year-old child who was riding on one of the Texas migrant buses died en route to Chicago, officials said Friday, the first time since the state has announced a death began transporting 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 came from or why he became ill. The Illinois Department of Health said the child was three years old and died Thursday in Marion County, in southern Illinois.
“Any loss of life is a tragedy,” the Texas Division of Emergency Management said in a statement. “As soon as the child had health concerns, the bus stopped and onboard security personnel called 9-1-1 for urgent assistance.”
According to the authority, the child was treated by paramedics and later died in a hospital. The bus departed from the Texas border town of Brownsville. State officials said all passengers had their temperatures taken and were asked if they had any health problems.
Spokespersons for the Texas Civil Protection Agency did not immediately respond to requests for more details Friday.
Illinois officials said in a statement they would be working with health officials, state police and federal agencies “as best we can to obtain answers during this tragic situation.”
Texas has bused more than 30,000 migrants to Democratic-controlled cities across the US since last year as part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s sprawling border mission known as Operation Lone Star. Except ChicagoBuses were also sent to Washington, New York, Philadelphia, and Denver Los Angeles.
