During the last eight years, 126 illegal immigrants have died while under the custody of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the United States.

The first case that took place during the 2012 fiscal year was Anibal Ramirez Ramirez, 35, from El Salvador, who died on October 2 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The most recent incident took place in a detention center in Eloy, Arizona. While arrested, Mexican immigrant from Oaxaca Gracida Paul Conte, 54 years old, died October 30th after being transported by an emergency ambulance. Her death was the third of an immigrant while in custody of ICE this fiscal year 2012 in the country. Fiscal year just started October.

Mauro Romero Rivera, born in a small town in El Salvador 43 years ago, also died while detained by ICE in El Paso, Texas, last october 5th.

The official cause of death of the three immigrants is still to be determined.
Among Latin American countries, Cuba ranks first with the largest number of undocumented immigrants who died while in ICE custody with 32 cases reported in the last eight years. Followed by Mexico and Guatemala with 24 cases with 9 deaths.

Mainly the causes of death among immigrants are heart problems, high blood pressure, AIDS, kidney failure and pneumonia. In the particular case of  Gracida Paul Conte, the Office of the Pima County Medical Examiner has not yet submitted the report of the autopsy, but initially heart problems have mentioned. She was arrested on June 4th in Fairfield, California, and handed over to Immigration authorities on 9th June, when she was transferred to Eloy Detention Center.
Victoria López, from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Arizona told EFE “…deaths of illegal immigrants who are under the custody of ICE detention centers are always a big concern for us. As of now, Federal Government has not been transparent in providing  detailed information on deaths of immigrants. In the past, different organizations have filed suits against ICE demanding more information. A court recently ordered the federal agency reports the number of deaths in custody.”
He added they are also concerned the causes of deaths, especially when it is a suicide or if they are not so specific on the cause of death. ”We have seen a pattern that repeats again and again the lack of adequate medical care in detention centers, not only in Arizona but throughout the country,” the lawyer stressed.