Medical Neglect Contributed to Death of 8-Year-Old Migrant in CBP Custody

An internal investigation into the death of an 8-year-old migrant girl in Customs and Border Protection custody last month has revealed that she was seen by medical professionals 11 times before being taken to a hospital. The initial findings suggest that the child was not provided with proper medical care while in government custody. The girl had a heart condition and sickle cell anemia, but her health history was ignored. Overcrowding has been a concern at border facilities, and by CBP's own standards, the girl and her family should not have been held in custody for more than three days. Changes to procedures have been made, and several medical providers involved in the incident have been prohibited from working in CBP facilities.