The issues surrounding ICE detention facilities are once again under scrutiny following the death of a Mexican national in Arizona. In response to this incident, state lawmaker Rep. Mariana Sandoval is demanding transparency and accountability from authorities.
32-year-old Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas, a resident of Flagstaff, was taken into custody in July after an arrest by Phoenix Police. He was subsequently held at the Central Arizona Florence Correctional Center, as indicated by ICE. On August 31, his life came to an end in a hospital in Mesa, with the cause of death still being investigated.
CoreCivic, the company managing the detention center, has stated that they cannot discuss individual medical records, directing further inquiries to ICE. Meanwhile, Batrez Vargas’ family has initiated a GoFundMe page, suggesting that inadequate medical care might have led to his death from COVID complications.
Rep. Sandoval has publicly criticized the conditions under which Batrez Vargas was held, stating, “The death of Lorenzo Vargas was tragic and avoidable. He was a person in custody, which implies protection under our laws and adequate medical care, which clearly did not happen.”
In addition to seeking answers for Batrez Vargas, Sandoval is also advocating for the medical treatment of Arbella Rodriguez Marquez, a legal permanent U.S. resident detained at the Eloy Detention Center. Despite having leukemia, her family reports she has not received necessary medical attention, a concern echoed by Rep. Yassamin Ansari and others in the community.
In contrast, ICE has refuted allegations of substandard conditions, stating that detainees receive medical assessments upon arrival and have access to both scheduled medical services and emergency care around the clock.
The death of Batrez Vargas marks the 12th fatality in ICE custody this year, a figure that has not been this high since 2020, based on agency statistics.
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