Illegal Migrant Woman from Cuba Dies in Border Patrol Tent Facility in South Texas

EAGLE PASS – A Cuban woman in the United States illegally died in Border Patrol Custody last week in Eagle Pass and the incident is under investigation.  

On January 2, 2023, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Eagle Pass Border Patrol station apprehended a woman, a Cuban national, approximately two miles south of the Eagle Pass, Texas International Bridge II. 

Agents transported the woman to the Firefly Soft Sided Processing Facility located in Eagle Pass. The woman was booked into the processing facility at approximately 10:33 a.m.

The woman was medically screened at approximately 11:44 a.m., and she informed the Border Patrol processing coordinator that she had high blood pressure and was taking prescribed medication. A Customs and Border Protection-contracted nurse practitioner medically assessed the woman at approximately 1:33 p.m. During her assessment, the woman did not complain of any chest pains and the nurse practitioner recommended she continue taking her medication. The nurse practitioner cleared the woman for travel and had her sit on a nearby bench in the out-take area of the processing facility. The out-take area is a holding area where migrants are placed prior to being transported to another facility.

The woman collapsed on the ground near two other female migrants at approximately 2:09 p.m. A CBP-contracted security officer and a CBP-contracted emergency medical technician heard the commotion, responded, and found the woman lying on the floor underneath a bench. As the EMT assessed the woman, two CBP-contracted nurses arrived and immediately began CPR on the woman. The EMT ran to the medical department and retrieved an automated external defibrillator and returned to the woman. An agent contacted 911 and requested emergency medical services at approximately 2:10 p.m. The EMT and the nurse practitioner utilized the defibrillator on the woman and administered treatment. The EMT and nurses continued CPR on the woman while awaiting EMS arrival.

Eagle Pass Fire Department EMS arrived and took over the woman’s medical care at approximately 2:27 p.m. Eagle Pass Fire Department EMS transported the woman to the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center. The woman arrived at the hospital at approximately 3:00 p.m., and hospital personnel continued life-saving measures on her.

A short time later, the woman was declared deceased by hospital personnel after consultation with the Maverick County Justice of the Peace.

This incident is being reviewed by the Maverick County Justice of the Peace and Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General was also notified.