Mexican Consulate Responds to Deaths of Nationals in U.S. Custody
The Mexican Consulate General in Los Angeles held a press conference on Monday to announce its intention to join an existing agreement concerning the deaths of Mexican nationals at the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center. This action is part of Mexico’s efforts to seek urgent clarification regarding these troubling incidents.
During the press briefing, Consul General for Protection Vanessa Calva Ruiz emphasized the actions taken by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in light of the tragic deaths of 14 Mexicans in ICE custody from 2025 to the present. Ruiz stated, “We are here to share some of the actions taken by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to these unfortunate events.”
The family of Jose Guadalupe Ramos Solano, who died last week while in U.S. immigration custody, attended the press conference. His daughter, Gloria Ramos, voiced the family’s demand for transparency, saying, “What happened to my father was very inhumane. My family and I have a right to know the truth about what happened to my father.”
Jose Ramos was apprehended by the Redondo Beach Police on May 6, 2025, facing charges of possession of a controlled substance and theft of personal property. He was convicted in Los Angeles Superior Court on August 21 and subsequently arrested by ICE on February 23, 2026, during a targeted operation in Torrance, before being transferred to the Adelanto Detention Center.
ICE officials stated that Ramos underwent a comprehensive health evaluation upon his intake and received ongoing medical care while in custody, including daily medication for pre-existing health issues. However, on March 25, security staff found Ramos unresponsive in his bunk, prompting immediate medical response. He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
ICE reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and humane treatment of those in its custody, stating, “ICE is committed to ensuring that all persons in its custody live in a safe, secure, and humane environment.” Nevertheless, Mexican authorities are questioning the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four Mexicans at the Adelanto facility. Ruiz highlighted these incidents as indicative of “persistent structural deficiencies” in care.
Ruiz further stated that Mexico supports a federal lawsuit filed on January 26 that challenges the “unconstitutional conditions” within the Adelanto ICE processing center. She noted, “Nothing justifies immigration or detention conditions that result in the death of an individual who should be treated quickly and with dignity and humanity.”
