Tragic Death of Former Dreamer Highlights Immigration Detention Issues
Ismael Ayala Uribe was just four years old when his family immigrated to the United States from Mexico 35 years ago. He grew up in the country under the protections of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program until he lost that status following a drunk driving conviction in 2015.
Despite this setback, he maintained steady employment at the same car wash for 15 years. However, his life took a devastating turn in August when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested him at his workplace and transferred him to a for-profit detention facility in Adelanto, California. The facility, operated by GEO Group under a $2 billion government contract, has faced scrutiny over its treatment of detainees.
During his brief time in ICE custody, Ayala Uribe developed an abscess on his left hip, which his mother, Lucia Uribe, claims was not adequately treated. She recalls, “He said he was in pain. He asked them to take care of him, and they didn’t.”
Over a period of two weeks, his condition deteriorated significantly. Lucia visited him on September 20 and was alarmed by his pale appearance and overall decline in health. “I said, ‘I can’t take it anymore,'” she recalled, expressing her concern about her son’s wellbeing.
The following day, medical staff at Adelanto finally transferred him to a hospital for emergency care; however, it was too late. Ayala Uribe passed away on September 22, at the age of 39. A partial autopsy report obtained by Scripps News identified the abscess as the primary cause of death, noting that it had likely persisted for several days before intervention.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Judy Melinek reviewed the autopsy findings and indicated that earlier medical attention could have prevented his death. “Abscesses of this size progress over time,” Melinek stated in an email. “If Mr. Uribe had seen a doctor when he first started complaining of pain, his life might have been saved.”
Ayala Uribe’s tragic case is not isolated; he is one of four detainees who have died at Adelanto since September. Attorney Jesús Arias, representing the families of three of these individuals, has criticized the facility, stating, “They were sent to the same place to die, Adelanto. They all died because of systemic failures.” Alarm bells were raised shortly after Adelanto reopened last summer, with ICE’s Office of Detention Oversight downgrading the facility’s rating from “excellent” to “good” due to increased deficiencies linked to an influx of detainees.
A separate investigation by California’s attorney general discovered serious issues, including understaffing and a failure to address urgent medical needs. The attorney general described Adelanto as a “ticking time bomb” in a legal filing.
“No one in an immigration detention center should fear for their life,” stated Arias. Despite ongoing legal challenges, dozens of detainees at Adelanto have shared their experiences in a federal lawsuit aimed at improving conditions, citing a dire lack of medical care, even for serious ailments like skin cancer.
U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes has scheduled a hearing for May 22 regarding the case, with the Justice Department indicating its intent to dismiss it. Both the Department of Homeland Security and GEO Group have defended the medical care provided at Adelanto, asserting that detainees receive access to 24-hour medical services, including consultations with various healthcare professionals.
In response to recent events, Ayala Uribe’s family has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit. “To me, it was medical negligence and the lack of attention they didn’t give him,” said Lucia Uribe. “Can you imagine how I’m feeling right now? He spoke to me on the phone every day. It was a loss that affected us greatly.”
