Deaths in ICE custody raise serious questions, lawmakers say

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Southern California lawmakers are demanding answers from U.S.Homeland Security officials following the deaths of two Orange County residents and nearly two dozen others while in federal immigration custody.In a letter Friday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S.

Reps.Dave Min (D-Irvine) and Judy Chu (D-Pasadena) pointed to the deaths of 25 people so far this year while being held by U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement.The number of in-custody deaths has reached an annual record since the agency began keeping track in 2018.

Two Mexican immigrants — who had long made their homes in Orange County and were sent to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center north of Hesperia — were among the deaths.“These are not just numbers on a website, but real people — with families, jobs, and hopes and dreams — each of whom died in ICE custody,” the lawmakers wrote.“The following cases illustrate systemic patterns of delayed treatment, neglect, and failure to properly notify families.”Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39, died Sept.

22 about a month after being apprehended while working at the Fountain Valley Auto Wash, where he had worked for 15 years, according to a GoFundMe post by his family.He had lived in Westminster since he was 4 years old, and had previously been protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA.

The Times previously reported that his application for continued protection was not renewed in 2016.Ayala-Uribe’s relatives and members of Congress have alleged that he was denied proper medical care after being taken into ICE custody in August.

Adelanto detention staff members were aware of his medical crisis, according to internal emails obtained by The Times.But Ayala-Uribe initially was taken back to his Adelanto dorm room, where he waited for another three days before being moved to Victor Valley Global...