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HIV positive detainee denied meds in custody, dies

By Christopher

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be the target of an investigation right now by the inspector general of the US Citizenship and Immigration Bureau for its treatment of an HIV positive detainee who died in custody earlier this month. But this being the Bush administration, there won't be an investigation or accountability. In fact, there are already signs that a cover-up is underway. But more on that later.

Victoria Arrelano was being held by ICE in San Diego and, even though she was transgendered, ICE held her with male detainees at great peril to her safety. Her health deteriorated during the course of the summer as she was refused medical treatment for her HIV. Her fellow detainees ended up being concerned for her well-being and petitioned ICE officials to do something to help her as her health declined. ICE officials ignored her condition and her fellow inmate's concern. According to her lawyer, she died because she was refused medical care.

After Arrelano's death, Human Rights Watch dispatched an investigator to interview her fellow detainees but ICE moved the detainees to other facilities in what appears to be an effort to prevent them from talking to HRW. I'll keep you posted.

AN UNRELATED NOTE: We've been traveling for most of the summer and I have not posted in a while. Now that we're back in town, I'll resume my regular posting schedule.

Full post as published by Queer Law Watch on August 30, 2007 (boomark / email).