Introduction to the Incident
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Tuesday that a Mexican national and former DACA recipient had died in their custody after being transferred to a local hospital in Victorville. Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39 was pronounced dead Sunday at the Victor Valley Global Medical Center, according to an ICE statement.
Background on the Deceased
Ayala-Uribe is now the 14th detainee to die in immigration detention since January, when federal immigration officials began to carry out President Trump’s mass deportation agenda. News of his death comes on the day that two Democratic senators from Georgia sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raising concerns about the rise in the number of deaths in ICE custody, in particular two that occurred at the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. NPR was the first to report on the letter.
Previous Concerns and Investigations
In July, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga) released the findings of a probe into alleged human rights violations that have occurred at immigration detention centers, including dozens of reports of physical and sexual abuse, and mistreatment of pregnant women and children. DHS rejected the senator’s allegations in a statement. In California, the Adelanto Detention Center, one of the largest in the state, has long been the focus of complaints from detainees, attorneys and state and federal inspectors about inadequate medical care, overly restrictive segregation and lax mental health services.
Conditions at the Detention Center
In June, critics — including some staff who work inside — told The Times that conditions inside the detention center were unsafe and unsanitary. The facility, they said, was unprepared to handle the large waves of detainees pouring into the center. That month, U.S. Rep Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), toured the detention center with four other Democratic members of Congress from California amid concern over the increasing number of detainees and deteriorating conditions inside. The facility’s manager “has to clearly improve its treatment of these detainees,” Chu said at a news conference after inspecting the facility.
Detainee Testimonies and Official Response
Some of the detainees told lawmakers they were held inside Adelanto for 10 days without a change of clothes, underwear or towels, Chu said. Others said they had been denied access to a telephone to speak to loved ones and lawyers, even after repeatedly filling out forms. A spokesperson for DHS could not immediately be reached for comment on Sunday’s death. But the agency said in its statement about Ayala-Uribe that immigration agencies such as ICE and Customs and Border Protection are committed to ensuring the safety of people who are in their custody. “Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay,” the agency’s statement read.
Medical Care and Circumstances of Death
According to the agency statement, Ayala-Uribe, a Mexican national, was being held at a processing center in Adelanto where he had been seen by an on-call medical provider, who prescribed medication to him, although immigration officials did not say why. But three days later, Ayala-Uribe was sent to the Victor Valley Global Medical Center to further evaluate an “abscess on his buttock” and was scheduled to undergo surgery for it, the statement said. “Ayala was also hypertensive and displayed abnormal tachycardia,” immigration officials wrote in the statement. “At 1:48 a.m. the [medical center] declared Ayala unresponsive and initiated lifesaving measures. He was declared deceased at 2:32 a.m. by medical staff.”
Ayala-Uribe’s Background and Arrest
According to ICE, Ayala-Uribe entered the United States at an unknown date and location. He applied for, and received, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals protection in 2012. He was sentenced to three years probation after he was convicted of driving while under the influence in 2015, the agency said. In 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services denied his application to renew his DACA status. He was convicted of his second DUI in June 2019 and sentenced to 120 days in jail, plus five years of probation, according to ICE. Ayala-Uribe was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Aug. 17 and transferred to Adelanto on Aug. 22.
Investigation and Reporting
Immigration officials said the cause of death is still under investigation. The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill of 2018 requires that ICE make public reports regarding any in-custody deaths within 90 days. ICE officials said they make official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media about a detainee’s death and post a news release with relevant details on its website within two business days per the agency’s policy.
Community Response
Ayala-Uribe’s family has organized a fundraiser, selling tamales, carnitas and pozole on Saturday, to raise money for his funeral. Times staff writer Nathan Solis contributed to this report.
Conclusion
The death of Ismael Ayala-Uribe highlights the ongoing concerns about the treatment and care of detainees in ICE custody. The incident also underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability within the immigration detention system. As the investigation into Ayala-Uribe’s death continues, it is essential for policymakers and the public to examine the broader issues surrounding immigration detention and work towards creating a more humane and just system.
FAQs
- Q: What happened to Ismael Ayala-Uribe?
A: Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a 39-year-old Mexican national and former DACA recipient, died in ICE custody after being transferred to a local hospital in Victorville. - Q: Where was Ayala-Uribe being held?
A: Ayala-Uribe was being held at a processing center in Adelanto before being transferred to the hospital. - Q: What were the circumstances of his death?
A: Ayala-Uribe was taken to the hospital for an abscess on his buttock and was scheduled for surgery. He was found unresponsive and declared deceased after lifesaving measures were initiated. - Q: What is the response from ICE and DHS?
A: ICE stated that comprehensive medical care is provided to detainees, and the agency is committed to ensuring the safety of those in their custody. The cause of death is under investigation. - Q: How many detainees have died in ICE custody since January?
A: Ayala-Uribe is the 14th detainee to die in immigration detention since January.
