Migrant Dies in ICE Custody in California, First Reported Death at Detention Facility
A 39-year-old Mexican national and former DACA recipient has died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, federal officials confirmed on Sunday. The case marks the first reported migrant death at a California immigration detention center.
The detainee, identified as Ismael Ayala-Uribe, was arrested on August 17 during an enforcement operation and later transferred to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center on August 22 for immigration proceedings.
According to an ICE statement, Ayala was examined by an on-call physician on September 18 and prescribed medication. On Saturday, after developing an abscess and signs of infection, he was taken to a local hospital. Doctors recommended surgery, noting that his blood pressure was high but his heart rate remained stable. However, hospital staff found him unresponsive around 1:50 a.m. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
Ayala’s mother, Lucia Ayala, told CBS News that she last saw her son on Saturday, describing him as pale and with reddened hands. “He looked very sick,” she said, adding that he ultimately died of cardiac complications.
Family members said Ayala had been in good health when transferred to Adelanto, but his condition visibly worsened during weekly visits while he was previously held at Orange County’s Fountain Valley Jail. They alleged that authorities failed to provide him adequate medical care despite repeated warnings.
ICE has denied those claims, saying in a statement that “all detainees have access to timely medical services and emergency care, and ICE remains committed to ensuring a safe, secure, and humane environment.”
Ayala had lived in the Los Angeles area for over 15 years, working in car washes to support his family. His death is under investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to determine the official cause.
Since President Trump took office in January, Ayala has become the 14th detainee to die in ICE custody nationwide.
