ICE Detainee's Death in California Hospital Prompts Allegations of Medical Neglect
The family of a man who died while under the custody of federal immigration authorities has publicly accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of denying him critical medical care before his tragic passing. Alberto Gutiérrez Reyes, a 48-year-old Mexican national, died on February 27 at a medical center in Victorville, California, after experiencing severe chest pain and shortness of breath.
Official Statements and Allegations of Systemic Failure
Los Angeles City Council member Eunisses Hernandez issued a powerful statement on Facebook, asserting that Gutiérrez Reyes was "denied medical care" while detained. Hernandez emphasized that this represents the ninth known death in ICE custody this year, criticizing what she described as a "deadly deportation machine" that prioritizes detention over human welfare.
"The Trump administration does not value human life," Hernandez declared in her February 28 statement. "They are using our federal tax dollars to bankroll detention and a deadly deportation machine instead of funding healthcare, food, housing, education, and the systems that actually keep people alive."
Family's Heartbreaking Account of Medical Neglect
Patricia Martínez Hernandez, the detainee's wife, provided disturbing details about her husband's deteriorating health to ABC7. She revealed that Gutiérrez Reyes suffered from diabetes and high cholesterol, conditions she claims went untreated at the medical facility. "He would say that he wasn't feeling well. He wasn't feeling well," she recounted emotionally.
Martínez Hernandez described how their son noticed alarming physical changes during weekly visits: "When my son went to go see him Sunday, my son goes every Sunday, he would tell me, 'Mom, dad's skin is yellow. His face is yellow.' Last week, the Sunday before, he told me, 'Mom, his eyes are yellow.'"
International Response and Demands for Investigation
The Mexican government has responded forcefully to the incident. The office of foreign affairs released a statement demanding "an immediate and thorough investigation into the conditions that led to the deaths of Mexican nationals in the custody of this agency, in order to determine responsibility and ensure that such incidents do not occur again."
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reinforced this position during her daily morning press briefing, stating: "We are demanding all the information. How did it happen? What happened? Why did it happen?" She noted that this case has prompted a stronger diplomatic response because "we must protect the lives of our compatriots."
Background and Family's Quest for Justice
Gutiérrez Reyes was arrested by border patrol on January 9 in Los Angeles and subsequently transferred to the Adelanto ICE processing center. According to the Los Angeles Times, he had migrated to the United States in 2001 and worked in construction in Echo Park, Los Angeles. He leaves behind a 19-year-old son, Erick, who was born in Los Angeles.
Martínez Hernandez expressed profound frustration with how authorities handled her husband's death, revealing that neither the hospital nor ICE notified her directly. She learned about his passing through a call from the Mexican consulate. "We were a close-knit family. My partner wasn't an animal, so they shouldn't have prevented us from saying goodbye," she told reporters.
The grieving widow has become a vocal advocate for accountability, stating: "I want answers. Justice for him. I don't want ICE to just say what happened; they need to pay attention to those who are sick. They can't die simply because of negligence." She further disclosed that her husband had repeatedly requested medical attention, telling her: "He told me he had a fever... that he was filling out paper after paper so they would take him to the doctor. 'Let's see if they'll take me,' he told me that night."
Community Support and Ongoing Scrutiny
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the family with funeral expenses and general costs during this difficult period. Meanwhile, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the immigration enforcement agency, have not responded to requests for comment from media outlets.
This incident adds to growing concerns about medical care standards within immigration detention facilities, particularly as it represents the ninth reported death in ICE custody this year. The case continues to draw attention to broader questions about detention practices, healthcare access for detainees, and international diplomatic implications when foreign nationals die under US government supervision.
