LOS ANGELES — Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, a 48-year-old Mexican national with a domestic violence conviction, died in ICE custody Feb. 27 at Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville after experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath.
Gutierrez, convicted in 2010 of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol during immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles on Jan. 9 and transferred to ICE custody. He was placed into immigration proceedings for being present in the United States without admission.
According to ICE officials, Gutierrez was admitted to the Victor Valley hospital Feb. 25 after reporting feeling faint. Medical staff conducted an evaluation for chest pain and shortness of breath. Early Feb. 27, he became unresponsive and medical personnel initiated life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at 12:58 a.m.
ICE has notified the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Mexican consulate, as required by agency policy. The agency makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders, and the media upon reports of in-custody deaths.
ICE officials stated that comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive in custody, including medical, dental, and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arrival at detention facilities, full health assessments within 14 days, access to medical appointments, and 24-hour emergency care.
This marks another in-custody death that will be subject to the 90-day public reporting requirement under the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018. ICE posts official reports on its Detainee Death Reporting page and publishes news releases with relevant details on its public website.
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