Residents of Albuquerque, New Mexico, gathered outside the local immigration office last Thursday (1st) to pay tribute to Kesley Vial. During the act, they lit candles and read testimonies.
The 23-year-old Brazilian tried to enter the United States illegally and was in the custody of state authorities when he died on Wednesday (24), according to a bulletin released by the American immigration agency (ICE, its acronym in English). ).
People close to Vial spoke at the vigil. Wesley, who met the Brazilian while he was in detention, read a letter stating that “his time in prison was very difficult. And all he asked was that he go back to his country, Brazil. But they refused.”
“After failing the interview with ICE, Vial came back crying and wishing he could go back to Brazil. He was about to return to Brazil and was boarding the plane, and ICE agents took him back [à prisão]. Then he started to get anxious and ended up taking his life.”
Kesley Vial was captured in April by US Border Patrol agents in the city of El Paso, Texas. He was transferred to ICE custody the same month and later to the Torrance County detention center in New Mexico.
There, he awaited a court decision as to whether he could remain on American territory or whether he would be deported. He had applied for asylum in the country.
According to ICE, Vial was found unconscious on August 17 on the premises of the detention center. The agency reported that the local medical team was called and that the Brazilian was then transferred to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he died a week later.
The last few months have seen an increase in the capture of undocumented Brazilian immigrants in the US. The May data shows, for example, that an average of 165 people from Brazil were barred from trying to enter the US via Mexico, reinforcing an upward trend since the beginning of the year.
Since 2020, at least eight Brazilians have died trying to make the crossing. There are also reports of kidnappings, rapes, extortion and abandonment along the way.
The US immigration agency said fatalities involving people in its custody are extremely rare. “ICE is firmly committed to the health and well-being of all those in its custody and conducts a comprehensive review of this incident. [com Kesley Vial]”.
