(Trends Wide) — A Nicaraguan citizen who died last week in federal immigration custody had spent more than a year in detention. Despite being recommended for his release more than seven months ago, he continued in immigration custody, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
Ernesto Rocha-Cuadra, 42, passed away last Friday. The preliminary cause of death for him was cardiac arrest, according to a statement from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In November 2022, an ICE panel recommended that Rocha-Cuadra be released, but officials at the facility refused to release him, according to an SPLC statement.
“The details leading up to this tragic death remain unclear, and his lawyers say Ernesto never mentioned having, nor did his medical records reflect, any heart-related medical problems,” an SPLC statement said.
The SPLC said Rocha-Cuadra’s death was the fifth since 2016 at the ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana.
“For years, the New Orleans ICE Field Office (“NOLA ICE”) and private prison officials have demonstrated a disturbing pattern of deadly medical negligence against immigrants detained under their authority, ignoring their constitutional rights and engaging in other human rights violations and abuses,” the SPLC said.
Rocha-Cuadra was scheduled for an immigration hearing on July 9, according to a statement from her family.
In a written statement to the press, Rocha-Cuadra’s brother joined a chorus of immigrant rights advocates calling for an investigation of the ICE facility.
“He was guaranteed that he would return home. Our message is that we want to know what happened to our Ernesto and we will not stop until we find out,” said his brother, Frank Rocha-Cuadra.
Rocha-Cuadra had been in immigration custody after illegally crossing the border near Andrade, California, on April 17, 2022, according to an ICE statement earlier this week.
“ICE remains committed to ensuring that everyone in its custody resides in safe, secure, and humane environments,” it said in the statement. “Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment people arrive and throughout their entire stay.”
“All persons in ICE custody receive a medical, dental, and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arrival at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entry in ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained non-citizen denied emergency care,” the statement said.
Trends Wide has reached out to ICE for further comment on Rocha-Cuadra’s death.
The ICE Central Louisiana processing center in Jena, Louisiana is privately owned by GEO Group Inc.
In a statement to Trends Wide, a GEO Group spokesperson said: “We are unable to provide comment on specific cases involving individuals in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Health care services at the Processing Center Louisiana Central ICE are provided directly by the federal government through the ICE Health Services Corps.”
