An advocacy organization is calling for an investigation into the June 15 death of a 32-year-old Ecuadorian man who was being held at a New Mexico facility after being arrested by U.S. immigration officials.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico has asked for the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral to be emptied pending an investigation following the death of Jhon Javier Benavides-Quintana. Benavides-Quinta was arrested March 22 by U.S. Border Patrol agents in El Paso while crossing into the U.S. unlawfully, according to a release from U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Benavides-Quintana was held for two days at an El Paso facility before being moved to the New Mexico facility, where he died June 15.
The ACLU asked for an “immediate and impartial investigation” into the 32-year-old’s death, for the privately managed processing center to halt all transfers into the facility, and for leaders to release people being held there.
“We further demand that ICE ensure that all detained individuals at the Otero County Processing Center have immediate access to high-quality mental health support services,” the release said.
The facility is owned by Otero County but managed by Utah-based Management & Training Corp.
While an autopsy is pending, a Management & Training Corp. spokeswoman told The New Mexican on Friday that Benavides-Quintana had preexisting health problems.
“Although the cause of his death remains under investigation, we are able to share that he had pre-existing medical conditions arising from incidents occurring prior to his arrival in the United States that likely contributed to his death,” company spokeswoman Emily Lawhead wrote in an email. “Medical staff at the Otero County Processing Center provided prompt and appropriate medical care while he was housed at the facility.”
Lawhead wrote that the company follows all ICE policies detailed in a publication entitled “Performance-Based National Detention Standards.”
“Any allegations that residents are not treated humanely or respectfully while at the Otero County Processing Center are untrue,” she wrote. “The health and safety of our residents and staff are of utmost importance.”
Lawhead said the company extends its condolences to Benavides-Quintana’s family.
Congress requires ICE to make public all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. Benavides-Quintana’s name has yet to appear on a list of noncitizen in-custody deaths. The most recent name on the list was Edixon Del Jesus Farias-Farias, a 26-year-old Venezuelan man who died April 18 in a facility in Conroe, Texas.
The agency said in the release that Ecuadoran officials and Benavides-Quintana’s family were notified of his death.
Agency spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa wrote in an email those in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health screenings within 12 hours and a full health assessment within 14 days of arriving at a facility or being taken into custody. They also have access to emergency care.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments,” she wrote. “… At no time during detention is a detained noncitizen denied emergent care.”
The ACLU of New Mexico and the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center earlier this month filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties regarding the treatment of five Venezuelan nationals held at the center.
