Government Seeks Investigation Into Mexican Woman's Death at Vancouver Airport Keven Drews - The Canadian Press
go to original February 2, 2014

The BC Civil Liberties Association is calling for an independent, civilian investigation into the in-custody death of Lucia Vega Jimenez at YVR. (citytvofficial)

VANCOUVER — The Mexican government is “quite angry” after one of its citizens died last month while in the custody of the Canada Border Services Agency, the country’s consul general in Vancouver said late last week.

Claudia Franco said her government is also calling for a thorough investigation into the tragedy.

Lucia Vega Jimenez, 42, was found hanging in a shower stall in a holding cell at Vancouver’s airport on Dec. 20, and died in hospital a week later.

During an interview, Franco said her government was informed of the suicide attempt the same day, one day before Vega Jimenez was to be deported from Canada.

“Any death concerning a Mexican national is a big issue,” said Franco. “Protection services are constant, and of course our full attention is to any case involving Mexican nationals. This is one of those cases.”

Franco said she has formally asked the border agency for information on the circumstances of the death, and the consulate has contacted the BC Coroners Service.

Read the rest at The Province

Related: Activists want to know why woman's death in CBSA custody wasn't made public for nearly a month

Photo: Gerry Kahrmann/PNG

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