ADELANTO, Calif. () — A family is speaking out after a Mexican national died while in ICE custody at the Adelanto detention center in the High Desert.
Alberto Gutierrez Reyes lived in L.A.’s Westlake District, according to his family. He’s being remembered as a beloved neighbor, father and devoted husband.
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez claims he died in ICE custody after being denied medical care.
“This is the 9th known death in ICE custody this year,” her office wrote in a Facebook post shared on Saturday. “The Trump administration does not value human life. 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.”
His wife says he had diabetes and high cholesterol, and alleges the center knew this but did nothing to help.
“He would say that he wasn’t feeling well. He wasn’t feeling well. 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,” his wife, Patricia Martinez Hernandez, said.
According to a statement from Mexico’s Office of Foreign Affairs, “an immediate and thorough investigation will be demanded regarding the conditions that led to the death of Mexican nationals in the custody of this authority, in order to determine responsibilities and ensure that such events do not recur.”
The Mexican consulate is asking for medical records, custody reports and all other information that could help to fully clarify what happened.
Eyewitness News has reached out to ICE for comment, but has not heard back.
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