FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2017
Contact: Kemi Bello, kbello@ilrc.org, (415) 321-8568
Second Immigrant Death at Adelanto Detention Center Underscores Need for Dignity Not Detention Act
Two Deaths in Less Than 30 Days Flag Serious Concerns about Detention Conditions
Yesterday, Rewire News confirmed the death of Sergio Alonso Lopez, a 55-year old immigrant imprisoned at the Adelanto Detention Facility in California since February. Mr. Lopez was detained as a result of directions from the Trump administration to ramp up deportations of immigrants. On March 28th, Osman Gonzalez-Gadba, another detainee at Adelanto, was pronounced dead after a suicide attempt while in custody.
Grisel Ruiz, staff attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, issued the following statement:
"No one should ever have to experience the pain of losing a loved one behind bars and we send our condolences to the Lopez and Gonzalez-Gadba families."
"The time is urgent to advance policies such as the Dignity Not Detention Act that would improve and strengthen oversight for the abuse-ridden and far too often deadly standards of care that these facilities currently operate under."
"By signing the Dignity Not Detention Act into law, Governor Brown would send a strong message to the Trump administration that immigration detention operators cannot and must not be exempt from accountability, transparency and an obligation to treat those in their custody with decency."
"We will be looking to our leaders in Sacramento to stand with the hundreds of other families who our immigration detention system has permanently separated by death, if not otherwise by borders."
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About the Immigrant Legal Resource Center
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC’s mission is to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities. www.ilrc.org