Family pleads for Honduran Boy to be given treatment in Chicago

Family members of a 7-year old boy from Honduras are pleading for him to be brought to the Chicago area for treatment. The family says that the boy is diabetic suffering with kidney complications as well. The boy’s name is Joshua Landero. He arrived in the U.S. along with his mother earlier this month.

His family and local activists said on Tuesday that he was sent back to Mexico after he was not given medical treatment for days. The boy’s aunt, Maria Landero, came to the Waukegan area 16 years ago, said that the family had hoped that the boy would be given permission to come to the northern suburb to seek treatment in Chicago.

The aunt said in Spanish, “Please, we’re asking.” The boy and her mother along with hundreds of immigrants were stranded at border crossings due the new rules. The rules that upends long-standing protections for people fleeing violence and oppression in their homelands. This rule states that anyone that comes passing through another country on their way to US will not eligible for asylum.

Majority of the immigrants have passed through Mexico to seek asylum in US. Central Americans, Africans, Cubans and Haitians make up those immigrants. The new rules make it impossible for them to get asylum. The rule also prohibits any children crossing the border alone to get asylum. Julie Contreras with the League of United Latin American Citizens said, “Our first priority as it should be for [US Customs and Border Protection] is Joshua Landero’s health and safety.”

Julie added that they want to help the sick refugee children’s lives. US Customs and Border Protection have confirmed that Joshua and his mother were “apprehended” on July 10 near McAllen, Texas. However, they say that they have not denied medical care to them.