SAN DIEGO - U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Mike Levin (CA-49), and Scott Peters (CA-50) and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA)and Adam Schiff (D-CA) called on the Trump Administration for answers following the death of an individual in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at Otay Mesa Detention Center. Together, the Members are demanding a thorough and transparent investigation into whether all policies, procedures, and standards of care were appropriately followed.

"As Members of the San Diego Congressional Delegation, we write to express our grave concern following the latest death of an individual in ICE custody at Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, California, operated by the for-profit prison corporation CoreCivic," wrote the lawmakers. "Any death in federal custody is a tragic reminder of the serious responsibility entrusted to DHS, ICE, and their contracted detention facilities, to safeguard the lives of those in their care."

"A thorough investigation is all the more important in light of previously documented concerns regarding delayed access to medical care, subpar detention conditions, and compliance with public health reporting requirements," the lawmakers continued. "We further request that the Department regularly update Members of Congress as the investigation progresses. Without complete and accurate information, Congress cannot fully assess whether existing policies, procedures, and safeguards are sufficient to protect individuals in federal custody."

Read the full letter below:

Dear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella,

As Members of the San Diego Congressional Delegation, we write to express our grave concern following the latest death of an individual in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, California, operated by the for-profit prison corporation CoreCivic. This death underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of detainees in federal custody, particularly given the previously documented concerns about medical care and oversight at the facility.

On Saturday, October 24, a 43-year-old Guatemalan man, subsequently identified by San Diego County officials as Guillermo Pascual Verganza, died while in ICE custody at Otay Mesa Detention Center. ICE initially identified the individual as Roberto Jimenez Gutierrez, raising additional questions regarding the accuracy of the information released following his death. According to CoreCivic, facility staff reported a medical emergency at 11:36 a.m. after discovering Mr. Verganza unresponsive in his assigned living area. Although medical personnel reportedly initiated lifesaving measures and requested emergency medical services, he was pronounced dead before he could be transported from the facility. The cause and circumstances of his death remain under investigation and an autopsy was done on Monday, October 26. While we recognize that the facts and details of this case are still emerging, any death in federal custody warrants a thorough review to ensure that appropriate policies, procedures, and standards of care were followed. This includes examining the medical attention and monitoring provided to Mr. Verganza during his detention, as well as the circumstances of his placement in a safety cell and the facility's response to the emergency.

Any death in federal custody is a tragic reminder of the serious responsibility entrusted to DHS, ICE, and their contracted detention facilities, to safeguard the lives of those in their care. A thorough investigation is all the more important in light of previously documented concerns regarding delayed access to medical care, subpar detention conditions, and compliance with public health reporting requirements. A California 2026 Department of Justice report identified concerns regarding medical recordkeeping, delays in treatment, and coordination of specialty care referrals and follow-up treatment. The report also documented concerns regarding detention conditions, including overcrowding and insufficient access to toilets in certain housing units.

Separately, a June 2026 San Diego County Health and Environmental Inspection Report, released in August, identified deficiencies in the facility's medical practices, particularly failures to appropriately report and coordinate tuberculosis cases with local public health authorities. County officials found that two tuberculosis cases were not reported by facility medical personnel and instead came to the attention of public health officials through an outside laboratory vendor. Individuals with tuberculosis require reporting within 24 hours and coordinated response as per Health and Safety Code Section 121361. The inspection also identified that no vaccines were stocked at the time of inspection and an individual who had gone 18 months without a replacement for a medically required dental or medical device.

While these findings do not establish that any deficiencies contributed to the recent death, they underscore the importance of a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding it. Given the seriousness of a detainee death, we request that the Department share with Members of Congress any relevant findings and information obtained through its investigation by Friday, November 13. We further request that the Department regularly update Members of Congress as the investigation progresses. Without complete and accurate information, Congress cannot fully assess whether existing policies, procedures, and safeguards are sufficient to protect individuals in federal custody.