The family of Alberto Gutiérrez Reyes demands answers from the U.S. government after he died in ICE custody, alleging that he did not receive timely medical attention despite his requests.
Alberto Gutiérrez Reyes, a 48-year-old Mexican migrant, died in ICE custody in California, leading his family to seek accountability from the U.S. government. His wife, Patricia Martínez, reported that Gutiérrez had requested medical attention multiple times but was denied care, worsening his health condition before his death on February 27. This instance is part of a troubling pattern, with his case being one of eleven deaths of migrants recorded in 2026 alone.
Martínez shared her distress over the lack of support provided to her husband, asserting that he was treated inhumanely while in detention. She explained how their nightly communications revealed his declining health, including symptoms like fever, chest pain, and cough. Despite urging him to seek help, Gutiérrez downplayed his situation, perhaps due to fear or a belief that assistance would be forthcoming, which tragically proved false.
The incident has sparked outrage among migrant advocacy groups and calls for reform within ICE facilities to prevent such deaths in the future. Martínez's plea highlights broader concerns regarding the treatment of migrants in detention and the need for systemic changes in how medical care is handled for those in custody, emphasizing that the current system often fails to address urgent health needs effectively.
