Martin Vargas
Martin Vargas had lived in the United States for more than 50 years and had been held at the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in California since April 2019. He had COVID-19 and other serious health conditions, and his attorney, Margaret Hellerstein, said he had a stroke on March 3, 2021, while hospitalized. ICE released him on March 5 without notifying his lawyer, and he died at a hospital three days later. His attorney and the ACLU say the release may have concealed a death in custody, while ICE declined to comment on the case.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. His attorney, Margaret Hellerstein, says he suffered a stroke while hospitalized, and says ICE released him days before he died without notifying her.
Reported by: Margaret Hellerstein, his attorney (family or their lawyers).