Civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit seeking $15 million in damages on behalf of the family of Anadith Danay Reyes Alvarez, an 8-year-old girl who died in U.S. Border Patrol custody in 2023. Despite her chronic heart condition and sickle cell anemia, medical personnel at the detention facility failed to provide adequate care, ignoring her mother's pleas and not summoning an ambulance. Her death, which occurred after the family's surrender to border agents, has sparked investigations into the detention facility's overcrowding and the medical care provided to detained immigrants. The internal investigation revealed that medical staff were aware of Anadith's medical history but did not act on it, leading to her seizure and subsequent death. The case has intensified scrutiny on the treatment of immigrants, particularly children, under U.S. custody, highlighting systemic issues like understaffing and inadequate medical care in detention facilities.

Anadith Danay Reyes Alvarez, an 8-year-old girl with chronic health issues, died in U.S. Border Patrol custody in 2023, nine days after her family surrendered to border agents after crossing from Mexico.

Despite her mother's repeated requests for medical intervention, medical personnel at the detention facility did not call an ambulance, leading to widespread criticism and calls for accountability.

The lawsuit filed by civil rights groups highlights the inadequate medical care provided to Anadith, emphasizing the need for systemic changes to prevent similar tragedies.

Investigations revealed that the detention facility where Anadith was held was overcrowded and that she remained in custody beyond the agency's 72-hour limit, raising concerns about the treatment of detained immigrants.

An internal report indicated that medical personnel were informed of Anadith's serious medical conditions but failed to review her medical file or transfer her for higher-level care.

The Border Patrol's chief medical officer was reassigned following Anadith's death, underscoring the severity of the situation and the need for reform in medical care protocols.

A congressional investigation found that Anadith's death was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of inadequate care in custody, with issues like understaffing and unreliable medical care being widespread.