Lelis Rodriguez
Lelis Rodriguez, 50, died in July 2013 while held at the Brooks County Detention Center, an immigration detention facility. He told staff he took medication for high blood pressure, but Human Rights Watch reported that the medication was not restarted. His blood pressure rose sharply and he developed a headache before he collapsed. An ICE Office of Detention Oversight death review attributed his death to an intracranial hemorrhage (stroke) and hypertension, and Human Rights Watch reported that two medical experts it consulted called the delayed response a key failure and said the death was avoidable.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). ICE's Office of Detention Oversight attributed his death to a stroke and hypertension, but medical experts said staff did not restart his blood pressure medication and delayed responding to his collapse, making the death avoidable.
Reported by: ICE Office of Detention Oversight (the agency that held him); medical experts.