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ICE detainee held at McHenry County jail dies

A Mexican man in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement housed at the McHenry County jail in Woodstock has died, according to a news release from the Department of Homeland Security.

Roberto Rodriguez-Espinoza, 37, was pronounced dead at 9:35 p.m. Tuesday by medical staff at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

Rodriguez-Espinoza is the eighth individual to die in ICE custody in fiscal year 2019, according to the release.

Attending physicians determined he died from a subdural hematoma, according to the release. A subdural hematoma is the pooling of blood outside of the brain, usually caused by a severe head injury, according to WebMD.com.

On Sept. 3, ICE agents took the man into custody in Chicago and placed him at the McHenry County ICE facility after they identified him as a documented Latin Kings gang member with a 2016 burglary conviction and a 2008 conviction for theft.

On the day of his arrest, during his intake screening, Rodriguez-Espinoza admitted to daily consumption of alcohol.

On Saturday, facility staff observed him acting confused and he was taken to Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital emergency room for further evaluation because of his confusion and history of alcohol consumption, according to the release.

On Sunday, the hospital transferred him via ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage. He was then transferred to Central DuPage Hospital for a neurosurgery consultation. Rodriguez-Espinoza failed to respond during a neurological exam performed upon his arrival. The attending neurosurgeon advised that he was unlikely to survive surgery.

ICE contacted the Mexican Consulate to inform them of Rodriguez-Espinoza’s medical status and to request assistance locating his next of kin. Mexican consular officials said that he had no known next of kin.

The agency’s comprehensive review will be conducted by ICE senior leadership, to include Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.

Comprehensive medical care is provided to all individuals in ICE custody.  Staffing for detainees includes registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, licensed mental health providers, mid-level providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners, and a physician.

Detainees also have access to dental care and 24-hour emergency care.

Pursuant to its commitment to the welfare of those in the agency’s custody, ICE spends more than $260 million annually on the spectrum of health care services provided to detainees, according to the news release.

Source: The Daily Chronicle

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