Family of California man who died in ICE detention sues prison operator

"The parents of an Orange County man who died of sepsis in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody is suing the operator and medical provider of a Mojave Desert detention center that houses detainees facing possible deportation. Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39, of Westminster died on Sept. 22 at Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville, a day after he was transferred there from the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and 37 days in custody. He had complained for weeks of pain in his abdominal and buttocks areas and treated with pain medication, according to the lawsuit filed on Dec. 31 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles."

"The lawsuit names as defendants The GEO Group, the private operator of the Adelanto facility, and Wellpath LLC, a private company that provides medical care to detainees there. It alleges wrongful death, deliberate indifference to medical needs, unconstitutional conditions of confinement and negligence. The GEO Group Inc. logo is displayed on a flag alongside the United States and California flags outside the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and detention facility on July 10, 2025."

"Federal agents arrested Uribe, a Mexican citizen, on Aug. 17 at a car wash where he worked in Fountain Valley and detained him at the Adelanto facility, where he allegedly fell ill, according to the lawsuit. According to an ICE detainee death report, Ayala-Uribe was convicted on Sept. 23, 2015, in Orange County Superior Court of driving under the influence and sentenced to three years probation. He was convicted of a second DUI offense in the same court on June 12, 2019."

Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39, died of sepsis on Sept. 22 at Victor Valley Global Medical Center one day after transfer from the Adelanto ICE Processing Center following 37 days in custody. Parents filed a lawsuit on Dec. 31 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles naming The GEO Group and Wellpath LLC and alleging wrongful death, deliberate indifference to medical needs, unconstitutional conditions of confinement and negligence. Ayala-Uribe had complained for weeks of abdominal and buttocks pain and received pain medication. Federal agents arrested him Aug. 17 at a car wash where he worked; he had prior DUI convictions and a denied DACA renewal.

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