Border agency reassigns chief medical officer after custody death of 8-year-old girl

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reassigned its chief medical officer after the in-custody death of an 8-year-old girl whose mother’s pleas for an ambulance were ignored despite her daughter’s chronic heart condition, rare blood disorder, high fever and other ailments, authorities said Thursday.

Dr. David Tarantino was CBP’s first person to hold the job, which was created in 2020 amid growing numbers of families and young children who have presented Border Patrol agents with complex medical challenges.

CBP commended Tarantino for “years of service” and role in expanding medical services for people in custody but signaled it was time for change. He is expected to take a temporary position next week at the Department of Homeland Security, which includes CBP. His reassignment was first reported by The Washington Post.

Anadith Tanay Reyes Alvarez was moved with family to a Border Patrol station Harlingen, Texas, after being diagnosed with the flu until she died on her ninth day in custody on May 17. Staff had about nine encounters with the Panamanian girl and and her mother over her final four days.

“As CBP works to implement required improvements to our medical care policies and processes, including from the ongoing investigation into the tragic in-custody death of a child in Harlingen, we are bringing in additional senior leadership to drive action across the agency,” CBP said in a statement.

A nurse practitioner reported denying three or four requests from the girl’s mother for an ambulance, despite the girl having a 104.9-degree Fahrenheit (40.5-degree Celsius) temperature, nausea and breathing difficulties, according to CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility. She was given medications, a cold pack and a cold shower.