Mexican Detainee Dies in US Immigration Custody

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her government will take steps to protest the death of another Mexican citizen in US custody. According to authorities, Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano, a 41-year-old Mexican immigrant, died at an immigration facility in California last week. Ramos-Solano was one of several detainees who have died in ICE custody this year.

ICE reported that Ramos-Solano suffered from medical conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, while in custody. He received daily medication to treat his illness. However, rights advocates have raised questions about the medical care provided to immigrants at ICE facilities.

This is not the first death of an immigrant in US custody under President Donald Trump’s administration. At least 32 people died in ICE custody last year, compared to 11 in 2024. In January, Cuban immigrant Geraldo Lunas Campos died after being transported to a hospital with reported “medical distress”. A medical examiner later ruled his death as a homicide.

ICE has faced criticism for its handling of these incidents, with some detainees having no criminal history or minor offenses committed years ago. The agency often portrays immigrants who die in its facilities as hardened criminals. In response to Ramos-Solano’s death, Sheinbaum stated that her government will take further action to protest the incident.

The US Department of Homeland Security oversees ICE and has claimed that some of the fatalities were caused by self-inflicted injuries or violent resistance from detainees. However, these claims have been disputed by advocates and families of the deceased. The issue of immigrant deaths in US custody remains a topic of concern and debate.

Source: Al Jazeera