Melvin Ariel Calero-Mendoza
Melvin Ariel Calero-Mendoza, a 39-year-old Nicaraguan father of two, was held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Aurora ICE facility in Colorado, where he had been since May 2022. His niece said he had worked hard since childhood, hoped one day to be reunited with relatives in Indiana, and had no known underlying health conditions. He died on October 13, 2022, after his family says he fell, began convulsing and was taken to a hospital. An autopsy reported by Colorado Public Radio attributed his death to a pulmonary embolism, and his family's attorney called the 911 response, in which staff gave the wrong address, put the dispatcher on hold and misstated his age, shocking.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). An autopsy found a pulmonary embolism, while his family's attorney says a detention officer gave the wrong address and put the 911 dispatcher on hold during the medical emergency call.
Reported by: autopsy report, as reported by Colorado Public Radio (medical examiner or coroner).