Veronica Ramirez is seeking answers following the death of her husband, Julian Curo Churata, who died while detained at the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, in late September. Curo Churata, 47, was held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being arrested in June for remaining in the country without authorization. He had previously applied for asylum, which was denied shortly before his death.

According to Ramirez, her husband had been in good health with no known medical issues and maintained daily contact with his family during his three months in detention. On September 28, after missing his usual morning call, Ramirez learned from another detainee’s wife that Curo Churata was “doing poorly all day.” Despite attempts to contact the detention center, Ramirez was not notified of his condition or transfer to a hospital. Hours later, she was informed by a funeral home of his death.

ICE officials stated that correctional officers found Curo Churata in “medical distress” on September 27 and transferred him to Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Medical Center around 8 p.m., though hospital records show his arrival time as 10:26 p.m. The precise events during the intervening hours remain unclear. Hospital notes list his cause of death as cardiac arrest due to septic shock, with records describing Curo Churata as lethargic, unresponsive, and exhibiting altered mental status upon admission. He died in the early hours of September 29.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has asserted that Curo Churata received proper medical care throughout his detention and that no detainees are denied emergency treatment. However, civil rights attorneys representing the family have expressed concerns over alleged neglect at the facility. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has called for a full independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Curo Churata’s death. Richwood Correctional Center has faced previous allegations related to inadequate medical care and poor facility conditions.

Curo Churata’s family and acquaintances describe him as a hardworking carpenter and devoted father who rarely missed work and had no history of substance use. His wife recalls their efforts to protect their young daughter from the reality of his detention, as well as plans made before his death to reunite the family outside the United States.

This case adds to a broader pattern, with at least 59 deaths reported in ICE custody since 2021, raising ongoing concerns about medical care and detainee treatment within the U.S. immigration detention system. The autopsy for Curo Churata remains pending, and the family continues to await further details from authorities. Meanwhile, community support efforts have raised funds to assist Ramirez and her children with funeral expenses and to support their futures.