Detained, Then Dead
Mexico-born Jose J. Cervantes-Corona was 42 when he died at the Northwest Detention Center 21 months ago. We never heard about it, but his death at the Tacoma tideflats facility is now suspected of having been preventable.
Cervantes-Corona is named in recently released and published documents showing how many "detainees" have died in U.S. immigration prisons: The New York Times last week reported that 66 names are listed in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data from 2004 to 2007, while the Washington Post this week reported 83 have died between 2003 and 2008.
Both papers refer to Cervantes-Corona as Jesus, and his death as Nov. 18, 2006, but a Pierce County death index lists him as Jose J. and his death a day later. The Post, in the ongoing series, has not yet explained why his death may have been avoided, but the New York Times/ICE document shows Cervantes-Corona died from coronary artery disease at 42. In addition, the Post has a copy of an Immigration Health Service list showing how much money the government saved by refusing to give potenntial life-threatening treatment for a litany of ailments including chest pain.
Altogether, denying treatment in 329 cases over one year, the government saved $1.3 million. The government's data does not reveal how many of those denials led to deaths. But the Post lists Carvantes-Corona's death as one of 30 thought to have been preventable.
3 comment(s)
bob says:
immigration prision? Maybe he should have stayed in Mexico. I\'m sure that government would have treated him much better.
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 13 2008 @ 8:20PM
Patrick Henry says:
Another just died this weekend, a 62 - year old professor from Thailand. I knew jail was bad, but federal detention in the US is real bad. I cant stand illegal immigration, but all Americans should be worried by this. Your govt can grab you anytime you travel, and you\'ll end up in this bozo ICE system, with health care courtesy of republicans, meaning death care. This country is a joke, repubs are a joke, and the fed govt is a really sad joke.
Posted On: Wednesday, May. 14 2008 @ 1:11PM
tt says:
i cant stand this they should be given a second chance jeez. they are probably saying i love my america why dont you love me back I highly dislke the I.C.E they are getting highly offensive to people they ae trying to arrest
Posted On: Friday, Sep. 5 2008 @ 6:53PM