The death of a Mexican immigrant in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Arizona has once again raised alarms about the conditions in detention centers. The case has sparked outrage among human rights organizations, which question the medical care provided to migrants in these facilities.

According to official reports and media outlets such as Univision, the migrant is Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas, 32, originally from Mexico, who lost his life after being detained at the Central Arizona Correctional Complex in Florence.

Lorenzo's death in Arizona

The death occurred on August 31, 2025, when Batrez was transferred to Mountain Vista Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona, where he was finally pronounced dead. According to information collected by Univision, the migrant had tested positive for COVID-19 on August 14 while in ICE custody.

Following the diagnosis, he was isolated and received medical care, including a chest X-ray and tests to rule out tuberculosis.

In its statement, ICE assured that the migrant received constant medical care since presenting symptoms. The agency indicated that, after testing positive for COVID-19, isolation and monitoring protocols were followed. Additionally, they reported that medical personnel attempted to revive him after he lost consciousness, although the efforts were unsuccessful.

ICE also emphasized that Batrez's death will be investigated according to its internal protocols and that the Mexican Embassy was notified. The agency rejected allegations of negligence and emphasized that the case will be reviewed to clarify the exact causes of death.

However, on a fundraising page supporting Lorenzo, family and friends of the deceased revealed that the true cause of Lorenzo's death was due to a lack of medical care and poor security protocols during his time in detention.

Lorenzo Antonio Batrez's life and the questions he faces regarding ICE

Lorenzo Antonio Batrez had emigrated in search of better opportunities in the United States. According to ICE, this did not prevent the Mexican citizen from becoming involved in various minor crimes over the years. In 2018, he was sanctioned in Flagstaff for driving under the influence of alcohol and received a lesser sentence; later, in 2024, he was arrested again for the same conduct and served a short sentence. In 2025, he faced new charges in Phoenix, related to drug possession and other crimes, which resulted in his parole and, at the same time, the activation of an immigration detention order.

Since then, ICE assumed his custody and transferred him to the Florence facility, where he remained until his death.

Batrez's case adds to a series of previous scandals at ICE, where migrants have reported medical neglect, lack of access to treatment, and confinement conditions that promote the spread of disease. Human rights organizations have documented multiple deaths in custody, which has generated strong criticism of the detention system in the United States.