A Child Did Not Die In ICE Custody, Agency Tweets

DILLEY, TX — The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has denied that a child died while in the agency's custody, but the Houston immigration lawyer who originally tweeted out the report is stressing that she died "AFTER" her detainment. In a series of tweets late Tuesday, immigration lawyer Mani Yegani said a child had died following her stay at a detention center, as a result of possible negligent care and a respiratory illness that she contracted from another child.

"The events took place in Dilley Family Detention Center in south Texas," the Houston immigration lawyer tweeted. She added that a lawyer in contact with the family said the grandmother of the child is in New Jersey and that reporters were talking to her to get more information.

But on Wednesday morning, ICE refuted that claim in a tweet of its own.

"Reports that a child died in ICE custody at Dilley are false," the agency wrote.

The original report was picked up by websites such as Heavy.com, HillReporter.com and International Business Times.

Heavy later updated its story to reflect ICE denied a child had died while in its custody.

Yegani in a tweet Wednesday morning reiterated that the child reportedly died "AFTER" her stay at the Dilley Detention Center, but noted she is only in contact with a lawyer for the family.

"I made the news public.I am in touch with Melissa-the lawyer, but have no confirmation from the victim’s family," she wrote.

Yegani posted a photo of a statement she received from another attorney — identified only as Melissa Lynn, a friend of the victim’s family. The statement said she was "overwhelmed" by the outpouring of support she received from fellow lawyers, reporters and other "kind souls." The statement said the attorney would talk to her friends sometime Wednesday about their "options."

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