Family of man who died in ICE custody says he was denied medication
Edwin Jovanny Lopez told family the day before his death he was suffering from numbness in his face and arm.
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Relatives of Edwin Jovanny Lopez, an inmate at Delaney Hall, are saying ICE failed to get him to a hospital last Friday when he was showing signs of a severe medical episode. The 39-year-old died the next day.
His family gathered in Highland Park with others who have long complained that immigrants held in the immigration detention facility are receiving poor medical care and provided with spoiled and moldy food.
Family members of Jovanny Lopez say he was being denied medication for high blood pressure and diabetes leading up to Friday, when he told the medical staff that the right side of his body was numb. His mother believes he shouldn't have been sent to the hospital right away.
RELATED: Family demands answers after ICE detainee dies at Delaney Hall after medical episode
Instead, fellow inmates would find him unresponsive on Saturday, at which point Jovanny Lopez was taken to the hospital. Advocates for immigrant rights say it’s right in line with daily calls complaint about poor medical care from other detainees.
“These are calls about people with serious problems. People with seizures, people with diabetes, blood clots in their brain," said Ellen with the group, Deportation & Immigration Response Equipo.
“There are women in Unit One that said we are all getting sick because the nurses are mixing up our medication," said Jenny Garcia, with the group American Friends Service Committee.
ICE denies any of these allegations.
The Department of Homeland Security released the following statement:
“GEO facility staff and medical staff responded immediately and called 911 for emergency medical services.” “While in custody, Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals.”
