Texas Girl, 11, Takes Own Life After Bullying Over Immigration Status, Mom Says
A Texas mother is speaking out after she says her 11-year-old daughter killed herself after being bullied at school over her Hispanic heritage and taunted by other kids that her family would be deported.
Marbella Carranza, in a tearful interview with Univision, said her daughter Jocelynn had been going to see a counselor at Gainesville Intermediate School outside Dallas several times a week about the bullying but that she, as her mother, was never told about this until after her death.
Carranza, who described herself as a single mother, said she came home on Feb. 3 to find emergency workers trying to revive her daughter. She died five days later in a hospital's intensive care unit, her mother said.
She now wants justice, she said.
'This happened due to negligence by the school by not keeping me informed about what was happening with my daughter,' her mother said in a Spanish-language interview.
A letter sent out by the school Feb. 12, and obtained by Univision, announced the death of a student to parents and offered support through teachers and counselors.
A representative with the Gainesville Independent School District, reached by HuffPost on Wednesday, declined to comment on Jocelynn's death or answer questions about what happened. In a statement, they said the school district takes reports of bullying 'very seriously' and they 'have a zero-tolerance policy.'
'Whenever we receive a report of bullying, we respond swiftly to ensure all students are safe physically and emotionally. While we cannot release any information about specific students or incidents, our schools have several policies in place to combat bullying and resolve conflicts,' the statement read.
'If a report arises, the District immediately takes all steps necessary to respond appropriately,' it added.
A representative with the Gainesville Police Department did not immediately respond to HuffPost's request for comment on whether they are investigating the incident.
A GoFundMe account shared by Univision has raised more than $18,000 since its creation. The family said they intend to use the funds to pay for the child's funeral.
This incident comes amid President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, with him vowing to remove millions of people who are in the U.S. without legal status.
His efforts have resulted in widespread fear among migrants, including those here legally. People have also been arrested across the country for allegedly impersonating ICE agents and intimidating immigrants.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
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