June 15, 2023

Contact: 

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), pcensale@haitianbridge.org , info@haitianbridge.org

Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), media@texascivilrightsproject.org 

NEW YORK – This weekend, the wake and funeral for Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez, the 8-year-old girl who died in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody, will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023, in New York City, and the burial will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, in New Jersey. The Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) and Texas Civil Rights (TCRP), are representing the family and conducting an investigation into her death.

• The wake and funeral will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST, followed by a celebration of life from 8:30 – 11:00 p.m in New York City
• The burial will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. EST in New Jersey

While the media is welcome to attend the funeral, the family will not engage in any interviews as they are grieving during this tumultuous time. Any interview requests made will be denied. If you have any questions or are interested in attending the funeral, please contact HBA or TCRP. 

In response to reporter inquiries about Anadith’s funeral arrangements, Anadith’s family, TCRP, and HBA have released the following statements:

“We are laying our baby to rest and may she rest in peace. We want justice for her, and we do not want this to ever happen again. We will fight for justice,” said the Álvarez family.

“We mourn alongside Anadith’s family who have been forced to cope with this profound loss. Anadith was a kind child filled with joy who had a heart for helping others – she should still be with us today,” said Kassandra Gonzalez, Staff Attorney with the Beyond Borders Program at the Texas Civil Rights Project. “What happened to Anadith was a tragedy that is rooted in negligence and the systemic reliance on detaining children and families crossing the border. The lack of oversight and access to lawyers while being detained only exacerbated this issue – it is clear that Customs and Border Protection is unequipped to hold itself accountable. This weekend, we stand in support of the family and remain committed to seeking justice for Anadith.”

“During this time of profound loss, it is paramount that we continue to fight for justice for Anadith and her family and all people seeking protection,” said Guerline Jozef, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “Ana’s death could have been prevented if her and her mother’s cries for medical attention were not dismissed while in CBP custody. When it comes to Black people, we always must fight to prove our humanity and even then, our humanity is denied. No mother and father should have to endure this immense pain.”

TCRP and HBA have sought an independent autopsy of Anadith and are awaiting the results to determine the cause of death. While CBP officials have tried to claim that Anadith was sickly and had prior health conditions, the facts are that when she was apprehended with her family on May 9, 2023, Anadith was healthy, and when she became sick in the detention facility, her mother’s repeated requests for appropriate medical care were denied. Moments after being denied the ability to visit the hospital yet again, Anadith’s mom states her daughter passed away in her arms while in the CBP facility.