The Death of an Ecuadorian National at the Otero County ICE Processing Center Underscores the Urgency of Passing The Dignity Not Detention Act in New Mexico

Chaparral, NM – It is with profound sorrow and anger that the Dignity Not Detention New Mexico coalition learned of the death of Jhon Javier Benavides-Quintana, a 32-year-old Ecuadoran national, while in the civil immigration custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Otero County Processing Center (OCPC) in Chaparral, New Mexico, on June 15, 2024.

We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Benavides-Quintana during this difficult time. The Dignity Not Detention Coalition remains committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of all immigrants and will continue to fight for the abolition of immigrant detention in New Mexico. 

This heartbreaking incident underscores the urgent need for New Mexico to no longer participate in the civil immigration detention of people seeking asylum and safety. Despite ICE's responsibility to provide safe, secure, and humane environments, the death of Mr. Benavides-Quintana once again raises serious concerns about the adequacy of medical care and the overall treatment of people in immigrant detention in New Mexico. 

With Mr. Benavides-Quintana’s passing we also remember others who have died in ICE custody in New Mexico: Roxana Hernandez, Johana Medina, Samuelino Pitchout Mavinga, and Kesley Vial.

We call for the closure of all ICE detention centers in New Mexico, including OCPC, which have repeatedly failed to meet basic standards of care and accountability, resulting in death and suffering. New Mexico must prioritize the safety and dignity of individuals over financial agreements with ICE.

We demand an immediate and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Benavides-Quintana's death, that ICE not transfer any more individuals to OCPC during the pendency of the investigation, and that ICE depopulates OCPC as quickly as possible to ensure the safety and dignity of people detained there.

“The detention of immigrants is a terrible and deadly injustice, and hearing this news makes me angry and disappointed in everyone who still thinks that ICE detention and private detentions are necessary. Mr. Benavides-Quintana had his whole life ahead of him. My father was detained by ICE at the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral, New Mexico for 8 months and he would share with me the horrible conditions they had to live in. I remember my father was scared to be in there. This not only affected my father, but it also affected my entire family because we lived in constant fear of not knowing if my dad was ok. News like this only proves that New Mexico is failing my community. Now, 12 years later, I continue to see the inhumane history of abuse and neglect. ICE detention centers must be shut down immediately, this can’t continue to happen, people are dying!” said Itzayana Banda, Communications Manager at the NM Dream Team.

“The Dignity Not Detention Coalition has repeatedly warned local, state, and federal officials that another death in New Mexico’s ICE detention facilities was inevitable. And here we are, again, mourning the death of a person merely seeking safety and dignity. It is past time for New Mexico to end its complicity in the caging, torturing, and killing of people in immigrant detention facilities. This cannot continue. Our hearts go out to Mr. Benavides-Quintana’s family, and we vow to continue our fight to end ICE detention in New Mexico in his name,” said Sophia Genovese, Managing Attorney for the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center and legal expert for the Dignity Not Detention Act.

“We mourn the death of Mr. Benavides-Quintana, a young man who sought safety and a better life in the U.S. His death is another tragic and avoidable loss in ICE custody. Mr. Benavides-Quintana’s passing follows years of warnings from individuals inside the detention center and advocates about the unsafe conditions at the Otero County Processing Center.  We urge New Mexico to end its complicity with ICE and stop caging immigrants, and for ICE to immediately cease placing more people into custody at Otero. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones of Mr. Benavides-Quintana,” said Zoe Bowman, Supervising Attorney at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center. 

“Mr. Benavides-Quintana should still be with us today, and we extend our condolences to his family and community from which he was taken too soon. The tragic death of Mr. Benavides-Quintana further underscores the chronically inhumane conditions of ICE detention, which are not an anomaly but the norm. Keeping people in ICE custody is unnecessary and will only result in more preventable harm. How many more people must lose their lives and be taken from their families before we accept that the only remedy to the harm of ICE detention is to abolish it entirely?” said Ian Philabaum, Director of Legal Organizing at Innovation Law Lab.  

“Detention is deadly – full stop. Families are losing their loved ones to a detention system that simply does not need to exist. Just halfway into the year, Biden has reached a grim milestone that his administration bears responsibility for – the number of deaths in ICE custody is more than double than last year. We demand that people be released from detention immediately and that the Biden administration shut down detention centers permanently,” said Luis Suarez, Field Advocacy Manager at Detention Watch Network.

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