Tragically, an 8-year-old girl from Panama, who was born with heart problems, passed away in Border Patrol custody on Wednesday.

This marks the second death of a child from Latin America in U.S. government custody within a span of two weeks, the Associated Press reports.

The girl and her family were being held in Harlingen, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, which is known as one of the busiest regions for migrant crossings.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrol’s parent agency, has been grappling with overcrowding at its facilities due to a significant increase in migrants, particularly before the recent expiration of a key immigration regulation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During her time in custody, the girl experienced a sudden medical emergency, prompting the immediate involvement of emergency medical services.

She was promptly transported to a hospital, where unfortunately, she was pronounced dead. The agency has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of her passing.

The young girl’s name was Anadith Tanay Reyes Alvarez, as confirmed by Honduran Consul José Leonardo Navas, who is stationed in McAllen, Texas.

While her parents hail from Honduras, she herself was from Panama. The consul explained that she was traveling with her father, mother, and two older siblings.

Written by staff