Ismael Ayala-Uribe Dies in ICE Custody

Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39, a Mexican national and former DACA recipient, died early Sept. 22 at Victor Valley Global Medical Center after being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. ICE says he was arrested Aug. 17, transferred to Adelanto on Aug. 22, evaluated by an on-call medical provider on Sept. 18 (given medication), referred to the hospital on Sept. 21 for an abscess, was hypertensive and had a rapid heart rate, was found unresponsive around 1:48 a.m., and was pronounced dead about an hour later. The cause and manner of death are under investigation by ICE and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department; federal notifications, including to the Mexican consulate, have been made, and ICE is required to make an in-custody death report public within 90 days. Ayala-Uribe’s family disputes ICE’s account, saying he was healthy before detention and alleging he did not receive timely or adequate care. Advocates and reporting note Adelanto has long faced complaints of inadequate medical and mental-health care and a recent population surge, and his death — the 14th recorded in ICE custody this year — has prompted congressional concern; ICE reiterated it provides medical, dental and mental-health screening and 24-hour emergency care for detainees.