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Senate probe finds poor medical care at CBP facilities

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feeds.texastribune.org – By Alejandro Serrano – 2025-01-24 17:45:00

U.S. Senate investigation of migrant child’s death finds poor medical care at border protection facilities

U.S. Senate investigation of migrant child’s death finds poor medical care at border protection facilities” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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Poor medical care that preceded the 2023 death of an 8-year-old girl at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Harlingen “was not aberrant but consistent” with other incidents of inadequate medical care received by vulnerable migrants in federal custody, a U.S. Senate panel concluded in a report released Friday.

The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended that CBP reduce the time individuals spend in custody, sharpen its medical care oversight and ensure it is meeting its staffing needs to address problems identified in the panel’s investigation.

The report found that many children are held in custody for longer than the recommended 72 hours, CBP facilities are frequently understaffed, processes for getting emergency care are not consistent among facilities and that CBP had failed to adequately oversee its medical contractor.

The probe was prompted by the death of Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez, a Panamanian girl with sickle cell anemia and heart disease who crossed the border with her family near Brownsville in May 2023.

Her mother, Mabel Alvarez Benedicks, said she was denied a request to take the girl to the hospital despite an influenza diagnosis. Instead, to reduce her temperature, agents gave the girl saline fluids, fever medication and a shower.

They only called an ambulance after Anadith fell unconscious, with blood spilling out of her mouth. She did not have vital signs by the time the ambulance left for the hospital, her mother previously said.

“Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez likely would still be alive if she received adequate emergency medical care in CBP custody,” said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, who ordered the investigation when he chaired the committee at the time of her death. “For too long, CBP has failed to meet basic medical needs and wasted taxpayer dollars.”

Durbin urged CBP to implement the report’s recommendations as the Trump administration “begins its aggressive and undisciplined anti-immigrant agenda.”

The report also recommended that CBP improve the agency’s medical recordkeeping, ensure staff can seek higher-level medical care and stop the use of isolation units.

A previous internal investigation done by CBP found that contracted medical personnel working at the Harlingen facility had failed to call doctors as the girl’s health worsened and her mother pleaded to take her to a hospital. Staff had also not logged encounters with the girl and said they did not know of her medical history, despite CBP reports showing that her family had told them about her chronic conditions.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/24/texas-migrant-child-death-investigation-senate-committee/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

News from the South - Texas News Feed

Idaho mom who killed 2 of her kids goes on trial over husband’s death

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www.kxan.com – The Associated Press – 2025-04-07 21:21:00

SUMMARY: Lori Vallow Daybell, convicted of killing her two children and conspiring to murder her romantic rival, is now on trial in Arizona for allegedly conspiring to kill her estranged husband, Charles Vallow. The prosecution claims Vallow Daybell, motivated by a life insurance policy and doomsday beliefs, conspired with her brother to murder Charles in 2019. She defends her actions, claiming her brother acted in self-defense during a physical altercation. Vallow Daybell is already serving life sentences in Idaho for her children’s deaths. She faces another trial in May for allegedly conspiring to murder Brandon Boudreaux.

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Meet one of pilots of the Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson blimps circling San Antonio amid Final Four

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www.youtube.com – KSAT 12 – 2025-04-07 20:26:01

SUMMARY: The Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson blimps have been flying over San Antonio during the Final Four. Nick Matis visited Stinson Municipal Airport to learn about their operations and interviewed a pilot. The blimps travel at approximately 30 mph, with a crew of 13 managing each flight. They typically fly for 6 to 8 hours a day, especially during events. The pilot described their flying style as similar to a boat navigating air currents. The blimps are equipped with lights, making them noticeable at night. The presence of Barkley and Johnson provokes humor, particularly regarding Barkley’s comments on San Antonio residents.

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You’ve probably seen them circulating the San Antonio area all week before the 2025 NCAA Men’s Final Four at the Alamodome.

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San Antonio man shares his journey to losing 127 pounds backed by community support

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www.youtube.com – KSAT 12 – 2025-04-07 07:11:21

SUMMARY: Christopher Caris, a San Antonio resident, lost 127 pounds through the Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) program, gaining recognition as the TOPS Texas King for his achievement. Struggling with weight all his life, a difficult experience on a flight in 2021 motivated him to seek change. Joining TOPS with his mother, he benefited from their education and support, finding success in counting calories. TOPS has eight chapters in the San Antonio area, providing weekly meetings to help members maintain their weight loss journeys. Chris encourages others to persevere and find methods that work for them.

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San Antonio resident Chris DeVicariis has struggled with his weight for over 40 years.

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