In brief
Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a 39-year-old Mexican man, died in an ICE detention facility after being transferred to a hospital for treatment of an abscess. His family claims he had been healthy prior to his custody and that he developed further health issues shortly after his arrival at the facility. Mexican officials are actively engaged in ensuring a thorough investigation while concerns about healthcare in immigration detention are raised amidst a pattern of deaths.
ADELANTO, Calif. — An investigation is underway following the death of Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a 39-year-old Mexican man who was in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Southern California. On Sunday, Ayala-Uribe was transferred from the Adelanto ICE Processing Center to a local hospital to undergo surgery for an abscess. However, he was found unresponsive by hospital staff and was declared dead early Monday morning.
The cause of his death is currently under investigation, but ICE has reported that Ayala-Uribe had health concerns, including hypertension and tachycardia. His family, on the other hand, asserted that he was healthy apart from his high blood pressure, noting he had a cough and fever shortly after being detained on August 22.
Federal records indicate that several individuals have died in immigration detention facilities recently, raising alarms regarding the treatment and conditions within these centers. The Mexican Foreign Relations Department has extended condolences to Ayala-Uribe’s family and is coordinating with the Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted.
Ayala-Uribe had entered the United States at an unspecified date. He received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protection in 2012 but faced complications with his status in subsequent years, having been denied renewal in 2016. His prior criminal history includes two DUI convictions.
The ongoing investigation into Ayala-Uribe's death comes amid increased scrutiny of the health services provided in ICE detention centers, emphasizing a broader conversation around human rights and medical care for detained individuals.
