Body of 7-year-old girl who died in US custody returned to Guatemala

The United States has returned the body of the 7-year-old minor girl, who died in US custody, to Guatemala.

The Guatemalan minor had fled her native land with her father, Nery Gilberto Caal, in search for a better future. The pair were taken into custody by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when they reached the US-Mexico border after a 2000-mile journey on December 6. The girl allegedly died in custody due to dehydration and shock.

Her body was transported by plane from Texas, and will now be sent to her indigenous community, Raxruha.

The Caal family's attorney has alleged that the deceased minor and her father were not given water for around 8 hours after they were detained at Antelope Wells, according to CNN.

However, the CBP has said that the migrants "had access to food, water and restrooms" while they were waiting at Antelope Wells to be transported to the border patrol station.