Anadith Tanay Reyes Álvarez, an eight-year-old girl born in Panama to Honduran parents, was seen by border medical staff multiple times over a three-day period due to fever, flu-like symptoms, and pain. However, the nurse refused to call an ambulance despite the mother's requests.

 

The girl suffered from sickle cell anemia and had a history of congenital heart disease, information that the medical staff seemed to overlook. The family reported her medical history, but proper measures were not taken.

 

Agency guidelines state that detention should not exceed three days, but that is often not followed, as average processing times have significantly lengthened in recent years.

 

After the girl tested positive for the flu, the family was taken to the Harlingen facility for medical isolation. During their stay at that facility, the security cameras were not functioning, so investigators have had to reconstruct the events based on interviews.

 

After her symptoms worsened, including difficulty breathing, the girl died hours after a visit to the nurse.

 

According to the report, another member of the medical staff mentioned having taken "a large number of documents" and some folic acid tablets from the family's residence to the nurse on the morning the girl passed away. Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, can be used to assist in the treatment of anemia.