A heartbreaking incident has emerged involving the untimely death of a 16-year-old boy while in the custody of Border Patrol. A newly released video sheds light on the final hours of Marco Reyes, a Guatemalan teen who succumbed to complications from influenza and other infections while detained in a South Texas facility. His death is part of a troubling pattern, as six children have died in similar circumstances within a year.
Marco was diagnosed with the flu by a medical professional, who noted his fever reached 103 degrees. The nurse advised that he should be monitored closely, with a plan to transfer him to an emergency room if his condition deteriorated. Instead of receiving the necessary medical attention, he was placed in a small holding cell with another ill detainee to prevent the spread of illness among others. Tragically, he was found dead the next morning.
In a statement at the time, the acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, Samuel Torres, called the incident a “heartbreaking loss” and assured the public of their commitment to the health and humane treatment of those in their care. However, the video offers a starkly different narrative, showing Marco in visible distress for at least 25 minutes, struggling on the floor and a concrete bench. He appeared unable to reach the restroom, ultimately collapsing into a position he would remain in for hours.
Despite claims from Border Patrol that checks were conducted on him during the night, the evidence suggests otherwise. The video clearly indicates that the agents monitoring him were either negligent or simply not present, allowing him to slip into unconsciousness without any intervention. It was not the agents who discovered Marco’s lifeless body, but rather his cellmate, who found him unresponsive on the floor in the morning.
The report indicates multiple failures leading up to Marco’s death, particularly the decision to keep a seriously ill child in a detention facility rather than seeking hospital care. Experts have gone so far as to describe the conditions in these facilities as “torture,” comparing them to concentration camps. Reports of starvation, lack of basic hygiene, and inadequate medical care have surfaced, highlighting the dire situation faced by detainees.
This tragic account is yet another reminder of the urgent need for reform within the immigration detention system. As more horror stories unfold, it is vital that we advocate for humane changes to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. To learn more about similar topics, you can check out our other blog post here.
In summary, the death of Marco Reyes serves as a chilling reminder of the systemic issues within immigration detention facilities, raising critical questions about the treatment of vulnerable individuals in custody.