Investigation Uncovers Negligence in Tragic Death of 8-Year-Old Girl in US Custody
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - An investigation into the heart-wrenching death of an 8-year-old Panamanian girl while under the custody of the US Border Patrol in Harlingen, Texas, has revealed a series of failures and negligence.
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) disclosed on Thursday that the family had been repeatedly denied an ambulance, ultimately resulting in the devastating loss of the young girl's life.
The child tragically passed away on May 17 after experiencing a medical emergency at the CBP station in Harlingen.
This occurred three days after she had been transferred from the Donna Processing Facility, located near the border in Donna, Texas, for medical isolation. The CBP's internal investigation has brought to light that the family had made multiple requests for an ambulance but were denied the necessary medical attention.
Responding to the heartbreaking incident, Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller expressed profound sadness, deeming the child's death "a deeply upsetting and unacceptable tragedy."
He issued a statement vowing to take immediate action, including banning certain medical providers involved and conducting a comprehensive review of how medically vulnerable individuals are treated while in CBP custody. The Commissioner acknowledged the need for accountability and systemic changes within the organization.
According to CBP, despite the family's efforts to alert Border Patrol agents and the contracted medical personnel about the girl's critical medical conditions, which included sickle cell anemia and congenital heart disease, their pleas for help were disregarded. The family had reported the girl's medical history at the Donna facility, and the girl's mother had repeatedly requested an ambulance or hospitalization for her child. Shockingly, neither the Border Patrol agents nor the medical personnel acknowledged being aware of the severity of the girl's condition.
The CBP statement revealed that the girl's condition significantly worsened, with her fever reaching a dangerous 104.9 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5°C) during the early morning of May 16. Despite receiving flu and fever-reducing medication, ice packs, and a cold shower, the contracted medical personnel failed to transfer her to a hospital for the higher-level care she desperately needed.
