Aurora, Colorado – A recent report examining the death of an immigrant in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed significant failures in meeting standards intended to protect detainees’ health. The government’s failure to complete a required health assessment on time and to address an abnormally high blood-pressure reading led to questions about the death of Melvin Ariel Calero-Mendoza, a 39-year-old man from Nicaragua seeking asylum in the U.S. He died in the Aurora ICE Processing Center in Colorado in 2022 due to a pulmonary embolism, a blockage of blood flow to the lungs that originated in his lower limbs, according to a coroner’s report.
The investigation, which was completed over seven months prior to the report’s release, was only made public following pressure from members of congress, immigration lawyers, and public records requests. The findings raise concerns about long-standing problems within ICE detention centers at a time when the Biden administration is seeing an increase in border crossings and the subsequent increase in the number of migrants being held in detention.
The report highlights that the detainee’s medical care was almost entirely managed by licensed practical nurses, who are generally qualified to provide basic care but lack the extensive training of doctors. This raises questions about the adequacy of care provided to detainees and whether the medical staff in ICE detention centers is equipped to recognize and respond to serious health concerns.
Furthermore, the report does not address a 911 call made from the facility after Calero-Mendoza collapsed, raising further questions about the response and level of training exhibited by the detention staff.
The government’s failure to release the report in a timely manner has been met with frustration and legal action from Calero-Mendoza’s family and public officials. The delay in making the report public has raised concerns about transparency and accountability within ICE and its treatment of detainees.
The Aurora ICE Processing Center, operated by the for-profit government contractor GEO Group, has come under renewed scrutiny due to this incident, as well as previous reports of inadequate medical care and failures to notify detainees of serious health conditions. These revelations further underscore the ongoing challenges in providing appropriate medical care to detainees in ICE custody.
In conclusion, the delayed release of the report, along with the findings of failures to meet health assessment standards and address serious medical conditions, raises questions about the care and treatment of immigrants in ICE detention centers. The incident also adds to long-standing concerns about the conditions and oversight within these facilities, highlighting the need for greater transparency, accountability, and improvements in the treatment of detainees.