The death of a 63-year-old man in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Laredo this month has brought attention to the rising number of fatalities in Texas detention centers. Felix Alcorta-Rodriguez’s death marks at least the fifth in Texas ICE facilities this year, accounting for a quarter of the nationwide total.
The incident has sparked concerns about the conditions within these facilities, as the number of deaths in ICE custody has reached a record pace not seen in decades. This article explores the circumstances surrounding Alcorta-Rodriguez’s death, the recent history of fatalities in Texas detention centers, and the broader context of ICE custody conditions.
The Circumstances of Felix Alcorta-Rodriguez’s Death
According to a notification sent by ICE officials to congressional members late last Wednesday, Alcorta-Rodriguez died about an hour after being rushed to the emergency room from the Webb County Detention Center on June 19. His death had not been previously reported and was not yet listed on ICE’s website. Spokespeople for the agency and congressional representatives overseeing ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Dr. Corinne Stern Webb County’s medical examiner, stated in a brief interview that although the autopsy and notification of family were ongoing, Alcorta-Rodriguez died from natural causes. She emphasized that his death was not related to his incarceration without providing further details.
The email from ICE notifying Congress, which the agency is required to do under federal law, revealed that Alcorta-Rodriguez entered the U.S. without inspection at an unknown date and time. ICE arrested him following his release from Webb county jail on June 16. The Laredo Police Department had detained him the previous month on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a 2018 driving while intoxicated charge. Alcorta-Rodriguez had previous arrests for unauthorized use of a vehicle, unauthorized disposal of a lead acid battery, and drunken driving.
The email sent to congressional representatives stated that Alcorta-Rodriguez was found unresponsive at 9:13 p.m. on June 19. Detention staff called medical emergency providers and began lifesaving measures. He was rushed by ambulance to the Laredo Medical Center and pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m. His official cause of death is currently pending an autopsy.
Recent History of Deaths in Texas ICE Facilities
Alcorta-Rodriguez’s death is the latest in a series of fatalities in Texas ICE detention centers. An ICE report from February found that the Webb County Detention Center, where Alcorta-Rodriguez was detained, had at least nine violations for providing proper care during a three-day visit. The facility is operated by CoreCivic which did not immediately respond to questions. About a third of those complaints related to concerns of improper medical care, including inadequate checks for suicide risks and insufficient care for pregnant women.
In the span of six weeks between December and January, six people died while detained by ICE in Texas, three of them at El Paso’s camp east Montana. The deadly period began with a 48-year-old GuatemalanFrancisco Gaspar-Andres who ICE said died last December of liver and kidney failure after being hospitalized for more than two weeks following detention. His relatives have disputed ICE’s characterization that he died of natural causes.
The most controversial case has been that of Geraldo Lunas Campos a 55-year-old Cuban with a criminal history, who died earlier this year at the sprawling and troubled tent camp at the U.S. Army’s Fort Bliss. Initially, ICE officials said it was a suicide. The local medical examiner later ruled it a homicide involving staff. Lunas Campos’ death remains under federal investigation.
The Broader Context of ICE Custody Conditions
Thirty-two people died in ICE custody nationwide last year, surpassing the previous high of 20 in 2005, according to federal data. Detention facilities are seeing more overcrowding and understaffing as the Trump administration ramps up enforcement in the interior of the country. Unlawful border crossings have plummeted due to the administration’s restrictions. Federal data shows that most current ICE detainees are not accused of crimes beyond civil immigration offenses.
The government last fall also temporarily stopped paying many medical providers due to bureaucratic changes under the administration. As a result, ICE for months has been unable to reimburse health care officials, including for prescription medication, dialysis, and chemotherapy.
The Texas Tribune is continuing to report on the record deaths in the state’s immigrant detention facilities and the conditions inside. They are seeking people who can speak about the quality of care at ICE’s two dozen centers in Texas, including El Paso’s Camp East Montana and the Dilley facility for parents and children, as well as anyone who can provide information on the new detention warehouses slated to open in Dallas, El Paso, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley.
