A 32-year-old Mexican man died in Arizona while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE), where the number of migrant deaths in ICE custody is at a 5-year high of at least 14.
ICE, which reported the death to the Mexican Embassy, now reported in a statement the death of Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas at Mountain Vista Medical Center in Arizona last Sunday, although the cause of death is still “unknown and under investigation”.
The man was being held at the Central Arizona Correctional Complex in the city of Florence following his July 15 arrest in Phoenix, where the Police Department arrested him for aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful flight from law enforcement.
The Mexican national, who pleaded guilty only to the latter two offenses, received a sentence of 12 months probation, but was detained by ICE following his conviction in August.
The immigration agency stated that the man had been arrested in 2018 and 2024 for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Batrez Vargas’ death would add to the 14 migrant deaths already officially recognized by ICE so far in fiscal year 2025, which began in October 2024, bringing the total number of migrant deaths recorded for the entire fiscal year 2024 to 12.
This is the highest number since 2021 and the second highest since records began, as in fiscal year 2020, during the covid-19 pandemic, there were 21, EFE reported.
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