Key Takeaways
- Francisco Gaspar-Andrés, a 48-year-old Guatemalan man, died in ICE custody at the Fort Bliss army base in Texas due to natural liver and kidney failure.
- Gaspar-Andrés’s wife, Lucía Pedro Juan, was deported to Guatemala without being able to see her dying husband, despite being held at the same camp.
- The death has raised concerns about the inhumane conditions at the Camp East Montana facility, with allegations of poor medical care, rotten food, and inconsistent access to necessary medications.
- Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates have called for the camp to be closed down, citing the need for better oversight and more humane treatment of detainees.
Introduction to the Incident
A Guatemalan man, Francisco Gaspar-Andrés, has become the first person to die in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Fort Bliss army base in Texas. The 48-year-old man died on December 3 at a hospital in El Paso, due to natural liver and kidney failure, according to ICE. The incident has raised concerns about the conditions at the Camp East Montana facility, where Gaspar-Andrés was being held. The camp has been the subject of allegations of inhumane conditions, including poor medical care, rotten food, and inconsistent access to necessary medications.
The Death of Francisco Gaspar-Andrés
Gaspar-Andrés’s death has been attributed to natural causes, specifically complications of alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis, according to an autopsy report. However, his wife, Lucía Pedro Juan, who was also being held at the camp, has spoken out about the harsh conditions at the facility, stating that she feared for her life and agreed to be deported to Guatemala. Pedro Juan was deported on November 28, without being able to see her dying husband, despite being held at the same camp. The incident has raised questions about the treatment of detainees at the facility and the lack of oversight.
Allegations of Inhumane Conditions
The death of Gaspar-Andrés has highlighted the allegations of inhumane conditions at the Camp East Montana facility. Democratic lawmakers, including Texas congresswoman Veronica Escobar, have called for the camp to be closed down, citing the need for better oversight and more humane treatment of detainees. Escobar has written to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE, expressing her concerns about the conditions at the facility, including rotten food, inconsistent access to necessary medications, and lack of regular access to recreational areas. The allegations have been denied by DHS, which has stated that the conditions at the facility are "categorically false".
Response from Authorities
The ICE and DHS have responded to the allegations, stating that Gaspar-Andrés received constant, high-quality medical care while in custody. However, experts have warned that the federal watchdog system at DHS that oversees complaints about civil rights violations, including in immigration detention, has been gutted, laying the groundwork for the Trump administration to "abuse people with impunity". The incident has also raised concerns about the lack of oversight and the treatment of detainees at the facility. The ACLU has stated that the medical care at Camp East Montana is "worse" than conditions cited in their Deadly Failures report, which found that 95% of detainees’ deaths between 2017 and 2021 were preventable.
Calls for Closure and Reform
The incident has led to calls for the closure of the Camp East Montana facility and reform of the immigration detention system. Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates have argued that the facility is not being effectively or humanely operated and that the conditions are inhumane. The incident has also highlighted the need for better oversight and more humane treatment of detainees. The ACLU and other advocacy groups have called for an investigation into the death of Gaspar-Andrés and the conditions at the facility, citing the need for accountability and reform.
Conclusion
The death of Francisco Gaspar-Andrés has raised serious concerns about the conditions at the Camp East Montana facility and the treatment of detainees in ICE custody. The allegations of inhumane conditions, including poor medical care, rotten food, and inconsistent access to necessary medications, have been denied by DHS, but experts have warned that the federal watchdog system at DHS has been gutted, laying the groundwork for abuse. The incident has led to calls for the closure of the facility and reform of the immigration detention system, citing the need for better oversight and more humane treatment of detainees. The case highlights the need for accountability and reform in the immigration detention system, to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
