The tragic death of 18-month-old Mariee Juárez while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has resulted in a $40 million lawsuit being filed against the city of Eloy, Arizona, by the mother of the little girl. This case highlights the dangers that children and adults alike can face in ICE custody and the lack of ordinary care being taken with the health and safety of detainees in federal immigration detention centers.

Negligent Care Contributed to Death

Yazmin Juárez and her daughter, Mariee, were detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center after traveling from Guatemala and crossing the border into the United States in March 2018. During their stay in the south Texas immigration facility, Juárez indicates that her daughter contracted an infection and received little or no treatment from members of the staff at Dilley, leading to her death. According to Juárez, she and her daughter visited the facility’s health clinic on numerous occasions and were turned away twice because of long lines and waits. The lawsuit also asserts that Mariee was prescribed a camphor balm that was not appropriate for a child of her age and could have worsened her condition. Because the city of Eloy is responsible for administering the facility, Juárez has filed a suit for $40 million against the municipality and plans to file additional lawsuits against ICE and CoreCivic, which runs the facility on behalf of the federal government.

Avoiding Detention and Deportation

The Juárez case is the latest in a series of horror stories about mistreatment and lack of medical care for those detained in ICE facilities. For immigrants in our area, working with a West Palm Beach immigration lawyer can provide added support and protection from adverse actions by ICE and other federal agencies. Your West Palm Beach immigration lawyer can provide you and your family with the most accurate and effective guidance for your situation. This can help you avoid ending up in a facility like the one that claimed the life of Mariee Juárez.

If you need the professional help of a West Palm Beach immigration lawyer, Pozo Goldstein can help with the most comprehensive immigration services in our area. We work with you and your family to make sure that you understand your options and that you receive the most practical representation for your case. Call us today at 561-578-4977 to schedule a consultation with our attorneys in our West Palm Beach office. We look forward to the chance to work with you and your family.