Cruz Velázquez Acevedo was a Mexican teenager whose attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border ended in tragedy in 2013.
According to accounts of the case, Velázquez was carrying two bottles containing liquid methamphetamine when he was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents in San Ysidro, San Diego.
During his detention, he drank four sips of the liquid after authorities pressured him to demonstrate what was inside the bottles. He became critically ill and died less than two hours later.
The teenager’s death raised questions about the treatment of minors held by U.S. border authorities and the handling of suspected drug smugglers in custody.
Attorney Iredale, who represented Velázquez’s family, confirmed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agreed to pay the family $1 million to settle the case after months of legal negotiations.
The settlement did not undo the loss suffered by his family. His death also drew attention to the risks faced by migrants, particularly minors, while in the custody of border authorities.
