In brief
Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39, was pronounced dead in a regional hospital after being transferred from the Adelanto ICE Processing Center for surgery. His family asserts he was otherwise healthy upon entering custody and highlights a concerning trend of deaths in immigration detention since the initiation of mass deportation policies.
ADELANTO, Calif. — An investigation has been initiated into the death of 39-year-old Ismael Ayala-Uribe, who was in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The Mexican national was transferred to a regional hospital on Sunday for surgery to address an abscess on his buttock. Unfortunately, hospital staff later found him unresponsive, and he was declared dead early Monday morning.
ICE confirmed that Ayala-Uribe also suffered from hypertension and tachycardia. His family, however, contested these health claims, asserting that he had high blood pressure but was otherwise healthy when he entered the Adelanto facility on August 22, where he reportedly developed a cough and fever shortly after his arrival.
This incident joins a disconcerting trend, as federal records indicate that more than a dozen individuals have died in immigration detention since the new mass deportation policies began earlier this year. The Mexican Foreign Relations Department has expressed condolences and assured that the consulate in San Bernardino will oversee a thorough investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding his death, pledging to ensure that human rights are upheld for Mexicans abroad.
Ayala-Uribe had received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protection in 2012; however, his application for renewal was denied in 2016 following two DUI convictions. The story raises significant concerns regarding the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody.
