WASHINGTON DC, USA—A six-year-old girl from Punjab has died of heat stroke in an Arizona desert shortly after crossing the border. Gurupreet Kaur, the girl who passed away, was found dead by U.S. Border Patrol west of Lukeville, Arizona on this past week on Wednesday.
Gurupreet suffered a fatal heat stroke when temperatures reached a high of 108 degrees. At that time, her mother was with other migrants to go in search of water after they had crossed the US border.
Gurupreet’s death has sent shocks to the Punjabi communities living in the US. SALDEF, a Sikh policy and education organization, expressed shock at the news of Gurupreet’s death.
“Gurupreet and her mother were reportedly among a group of five Indian nationals who were dropped off by migrant traffickers in a remote area along the U.S.-Mexico border. Her mother and another woman went in search of water, leaving Gurupreet with two others from the group. Gurupreet’s mother was found by a U.S. Border Patrol agent 22 hours later. Four hours after that, Border Patrol agents found Gurupreet’s body,” SALDEF stated in a press statement.
SALDEF Executive Director Kiran Kaur Gill said, “This story reflects the tragic culmination of a broken immigration system, immigration policies that deny basic human dignity and human rights particularly for asylum seekers and the unfortunate practice of individuals moving those most vulnerable for profit.”
“SALDEF has seen ongoing issues in detention facilities including the use of solitary confinement, denial of appropriate religious accommodation, medical neglect and language access issues. We stand firmly against the practice of detaining and/or turning away asylum seekers and treating those most vulnerable as threats,” said Executive Director Kiran Kaur Gill. “We have been working to ensure Sikh asylum seekers receive fair and humane treatment in the asylum process and are ensured the appropriate religious accommodation afforded to all under our laws. We encourage the community to stay engaged on this issue.”
The girl’s death is the second recorded fatality of a migrant child this year in Arizona’s southern deserts highlighting the central issue in immigration – it is complicated, arduous, expensive and scary forcing people to take extraordinary measures to come and make a life here in the U.S.
SALDEF will be investigating into the death of Gurupreet and information about her mother and the other migrants in their group. The humanitarian crisis at the border is increasing and the need to address the issue in a humane and timely fashion is more necessary now than ever. We will also be inquiring about this incident with Customs and Border Protection.
