Panama Girl Dies in Texas Border Patrol Custody

Tragedy struck on Wednesday as an eight-year-old Panama girl suffering from heart problems passed away while under the custody of the Texas Border Patrol, AP reports.

This distressing incident marks the second death of a child from Latin America in US government custody within the past two weeks.

The young girl and her family were being held at a Harlingen, Texas facility in the Rio Grande Valley, a region renowned for its high volume of migrant crossings.

Overcrowding has become a pressing issue for US Customs and Border Protection, the parent agency of the Border Patrol, as a surge of individuals sought to enter the country before the recent expiration of a significant limitation on immigration linked to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The child experienced a sudden "medical emergency," prompting the dispatch of paramedics who swiftly transported her to the hospital. Tragically, she was pronounced dead upon arrival. An autopsy will determine the precise cause of her untimely demise.

The Panama girl's name was Anadith Tanay Reyes Alvarez, according to the Honduran Consul in McAllen, Texas. Although her parents hail from Honduras, she was born in Panama.

The consul noted that the girl's family had contacted him for assistance. Her father had contacted the consul due to her congenital heart defects and her prior surgery in Panama three years ago.

The investigation into this heartbreaking incident will be conducted by multiple entities, including the internal affairs office of CBP, the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Harlingen police, as announced by CBP.

Panama Girl Dies Following the Expiration of Title 42

Tragically, the passing of the Panama girl comes just over a week after the expiration of Title 42, a crucial emergency public health order that enabled the rejection of asylum claims from migrants amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

Despite initial concerns, officials in President Joe Biden's administration have reported that the expiration did not lead to a significant surge in the number of migrants crossing the southern border, according to The Texas Tribune.

In anticipation of the expiration of Title 42, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas had taken proactive measures by deploying hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers to the southern border.

Their objective was to prepare for the anticipated influx of migrants seeking entry into the United States.

As of Wednesday night, Governor Abbott had not responded immediately when approached for comment on this tragic incident.

According to CBP's official statement, the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility will investigate the girl's death.

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security and the Harlingen Police Department have been notified and will be involved in the inquiry.

Honduran Teen Also Died Under US Custody

According to official statements from Honduran officials and a congressional notice, the recent death of the Panama girl follows another tragic incident involving a 17-year-old unaccompanied Honduran migrant who died while under the care of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The teenager was discovered unresponsive at a Safety Harbor, Florida facility. A government representative informed USA TODAY that the Office of Refugee Resettlement is currently investigating the matter and awaiting the final report from the medical examiner.

Five days after being placed in the Safety Harbor facility by the US Department of Health and Human Services resettlement office, Angel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza tragically passed away on May 10, per Tampa Bay Times.

Both federal government officials and the agency have remained relatively silent since the discovery of Espinoza's lifeless body in bed, offering limited information regarding the incident.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 8-year-old girl dies in Border Patrol custody in Texas, as agency struggles with overcrowding - From WGN News