Break ICE Not Families (Photo – Staff)
Rep. Judy Chu (CA‑28) and Rep. Ted Lieu (CA‑36) are pressing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for explanations following the death of Jose Guadalupe Ramos‑Solano, a 52‑year‑old man who died while in ICE custody on March 25, 2026.
By News Desk
Ramos‑Solano had been detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in Adelanto, California, after his arrest on February 23. According to ICE, he was discovered “unconscious and unresponsive in his bunk,” after which security personnel contacted medical staff and emergency responders. He was transported to Victor Valley Global Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Accounts from other detainees, however, conflict with ICE’s description. Several individuals held at Adelanto report that they repeatedly attempted to alert staff to Ramos‑Solano’s worsening condition but say he did not receive medical attention until he was already unconscious. Some detainees also allege that he died at the Adelanto facility itself, not at the hospital.
While ICE’s investigation remains ongoing, the Adelanto facility has faced longstanding scrutiny over medical care and detention conditions. Chu and Lieu said the circumstances surrounding Ramos‑Solano’s death raise urgent questions about whether systemic failures contributed to his death and to other deaths reported in ICE custody.
“The trend of medical negligence and poor living conditions in Adelanto is deeply concerning. We need answers for the death of Mr. Ramos‑Solano, and the others who have suffered and died in ICE custody,” Rep. Chu said. She added that detainee accounts describing a lack of basic medical care “cannot be overlooked.”
Rep. Lieu said the situation reflects broader issues within the detention system. He stated that deaths in ICE custody have increased and pointed to concerns about inadequate medical care and oversight. “The Department of Homeland Security has a duty to ensure the safety and basic dignity of every person in its custody. We demand accountability because lives depend on it,” he said.
The letter sent to ICE and DHS was signed by 31 members of Congress, including Reps. Pete Aguilar, Pramila Jayapal, Zoe Lofgren, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, and Maxine Waters, among others. The lawmakers are seeking detailed information about the events leading up to Ramos‑Solano’s death, the medical care he received, and any systemic issues that may have contributed.
The inquiry adds to ongoing scrutiny of conditions at Adelanto, one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country, and renews calls for greater transparency and oversight of immigration detention practices.
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