Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz joined us from Los Angeles. Today, he is stuck in a nightmare of a case with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On August 8, Guerrero-Cruz was detained in the Van Nuys neighborhood while walking his dog, surrounded by masked men who handed him over to federal agents.
Following his first arrest, Guerrero-Cruz spent a week in the downtown Los Angeles metropolitan detention center. He was subsequently moved to the Adelanto detention center in San Bernardino County. Unfortunately, this transfer would be just the first of many tragic developments for him and his family.
While at Adelanto, Guerrero-Cruz experienced inhumane treatment. He wasn’t even allowed to take a shower or brush his teeth for a full week. He lived in an extremely close quartered cell with 25 other men. They have had to contend with inadequate access to food and running water.
In a truly egregious development, ICE moved him out of California in a highly expedited manner without even informing his family. From Adelanto, they sent him to a faraway holding facility in Arizona. This action raised substantial doubt as to his continued care, subjected him to cruel and unusual punishment, and disenfranchised him from contact with family and friends.
This chain of events culminated when Guerrero-Cruz began to prepare for his transfer. Since Louisiana is a well-documented staging ground for deportation flights, he was facing immediate transfer. At the last moment, they decided to take him off the flight. He is currently back in Adelanto, where he is still in custody.
Local Assemblymember Luz Rivas spoke out about the unfortunate circumstances.
“Benjamin and his family deserve answers behind ICE’s inconsistent and chaotic decision-making process, including why Benjamin was initially transferred to Arizona, why he was slated to be transferred to Louisiana afterward, and why his family wasn’t notified of his whereabouts by ICE throughout this process.” – Luz Rivas
This tragic incident has again sparked scrutiny on the practices of ICE and their treatment of the individuals who ICE detains in facilities across the country. Their failure to be transparent and communicative has put families on edge, worried about what is only around the corner. Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz is still working his way through this difficult journey. At the same time, advocates and lawmakers are calling on ICE to bring transparency and accountability to its practices.
“The nightmare for him, his family, and thousands in similar situations is not over yet.” – Luz Rivas
This incident has raised questions about the practices of ICE and the treatment of individuals in detention facilities. The lack of transparency and communication has left families anxious and fearful of what may come next. As Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz continues to navigate this challenging ordeal, advocates and lawmakers are calling for clarity and accountability from ICE regarding its operations.