The following article was first published by Frontera Dispatch/Hope Border Institute on May 23, 2023. The article was written by Patrick Giuliani, Mayte Elizalde, Sofia Gomez, and Luke Monnich.
Anadith Tanay Reyes Alvarez, an 8-year-old Panamanian girl, died while she was in CBP custody with her family. Her family had been detained by CBP for nine days, which is well beyond the 72 hours that are allowed under official policy. During their sixth day in custody, Anadith was diagnosed with influenza.
Anadith had a medical history of heart problems and sickle cell anemia but her mother has reported that the medical officials ignored the requests to hospitalize Anadith even after she said she felt pain in her bones, was struggling to breathe or walk, and had spent the day vomiting and with stomach pains. In what was her third visit to the medic center at the station, she became unresponsive and soon after passed away at a local hospital.
Anadith’s death came a week after 17-year-old Ángel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza of Honduras died in the custody of the US Health and Human Services Department. These deaths were the result of the ongoing systemic failure to protect families and children as we continue to detain and criminalize those seeking protection. A cruel reminder that no matter how much politicians claim to create a humane and dignified system of migration, people will continue to die in our current reality.
Our current system is not one of protection but instead, one that relies upon deterrence. How many more deaths will we continue to allow in the name of securing our borders? This is no longer a question about order and security but instead a grave moral failure of our society. While we pray for the peaceful respite of those who have passed away we will continue to work to establish the dignified reception of all who arrive at our southern border seeking safety.
