The in-custody death happened as inmate families and immigrant rights organizations are speaking out about the conditions at the facility, reports NBC 7’s Kelvin Henry.
A 50-year-old Romanian citizen died this weekend while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, authorities announced Monday.
Cristian Dumitascu was arrested Feb. 22 near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, then transferred to ICE custody one week later, according to an ICE statement that did not disclose any other details regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
Dumitascu died on Sunday, according to ICE, which said an autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death.
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According to ICE's statement, "no additional details on Dumitascu's death are available at this time," but the agency stated it is required to publicize all reports regarding an in-custody death within 90 days, which can be viewed here.
Last month, seven immigrant rights organizations protested alleged verbal abuse, medical negligence and retaliatory transfers at the facility, which is operated by Core Civic. The organizations also filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security about the alleged retaliatory transfers.
A friend of another inmate at the Otay Mesa Detention Center who spoke with NBC 7 on the condition of anonymity alleges his friend is facing horrible conditions.
“Prison is better than this because the way they treated him when he first got arrested, I told you the journey when he first got arrested, they put him in a place where they call it, "la heladera," which translates to the icebox. It's so cold. You don't get to sleep and it's so crowded. They have about 200 people in one room where you can only fit about probably 75 max,” he said.