By An independent report released on Tuesday shed light on the tragic death of an 8-year-old girl from Panama who was in federal custody, revealing that the U.S. Border Patrol lacks protocols for assessing the medical needs of children with pre-existing conditions. The report labeled the girl’s death as a “preventable tragedy” resulting from the failing “medical and custodial systems” within U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The incident occurred on May 17, when Anadith Danay Reyes Alvarez passed away after being in custody for nine days with her family in Harlingen, Texas. As one of the busiest corridors for migrant crossings, the Rio Grande Valley saw the young girl fall victim to her chronic heart condition and sickle-cell anemia.
An internal investigation revealed that Border Patrol medical staff had declined to review the girl’s file, further highlighting the negligence on the agency’s part. The report, which was made public on Tuesday, was conducted by an independent monitor responsible for ensuring compliance with the Flores settlement agreement—a measure aimed at safeguarding child welfare in immigration custody.
“The failure to consult a physician or a local health facility for more extensive testing raises fundamental concerns regarding the ability of the CBP medical system to care appropriately for children at elevated medical risk,” stated the report.
Despite numerous requests for comment, CBP remained silent on the matter.
The girl’s mother, Mabel Alvarez Benedicks, disclosed to the Associated Press that she had informed officials about her daughter’s condition during their processing at the border. Shockingly, officials failed to relay this critical information to staff members when the family was transferred to a second facility designated for families—an issue previously brought to light by the monitor in a prior report to the court.
Six days after her arrival in custody, the girl tested positive for influenza and had a high temperature of 101.8° F (38.78° C), as per the report’s findings. Although she was provided with medication and placed in isolation with her family, the report noted that the girl and her mother made multiple visits to the medical unit over the next three days.
The tragic case underscores the urgent need for improved protocols and medical attention within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, particularly when dealing with vulnerable children with pre-existing conditions.
Tragic Negligence Leads to Death of Young Girl in Border Patrol Custody
Anadith’s heartbreaking story reveals a series of unfortunate events that ultimately led to her untimely death while in the custody of the Border Patrol. The distressing report details the negligence and poor decision-making by the health providers responsible for her care.
Initial symptoms of vomiting and a stomachache were reported by Anadith to the health provider, who unfortunately failed to contact an on-call physician despite no clear protocol indicating when it should be done.
Alvarez, Anadith’s mother, desperately pleaded with officials to call an ambulance as her daughter experienced excruciating pain in her bones, struggled to breathe, and lost the ability to walk. Shockingly, the health provider dismissed these urgent pleas for a transfer to a hospital.
Tragically, after Alvarez took matters into her own hands and physically carried her seizing and unresponsive daughter to the medical unit, Anadith was finally taken to a hospital. However, it was too late, and she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
There is no denying that the negligent actions of the health providers played a significant role in Anadith’s death, as stated in the harrowing report. Melissa Adamson, an attorney at the National Center for Youth Law, described these failures as “inexcusable systemic failures” that were exacerbated by a blatant disregard for Anadith’s life.
This devastating incident is not an isolated case within Border Patrol custody. Three other children have tragically lost their lives this year under similar circumstances.
In July, a 15-year-old girl from Guatemala with an underlying illness died while in federal custody. Despite being hospitalized at El Paso Children’s Hospital for a preexisting condition, she was later referred from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Similarly, in May, a 17-year-old boy from Honduras died while in U.S. custody. Despite his mother mentioning his epilepsy, there were no apparent signs of serious illness before he embarked on his journey to the United States.
Yet another devastating loss occurred in March when a 4-year-old “medically fragile unaccompanied child from Honduras” passed away at a hospital in Michigan, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
These distressing incidents shed light on the need for urgent changes and improvements in the healthcare provided to children in Border Patrol custody. The lives of vulnerable individuals should never be jeopardized due to negligence and inadequate decision-making.
Also see: Texas state trooper says migrants are being pushed back into Rio Grande under Gov. Abbott’s $4 billion ‘Operation Lone Star’
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