‘He’s literally dying’ -- NJ ICE detainee’s medical problems worsening, family says

The family of a Bronx man from Mexico detained at a New Jersey ICE facility for a year and a half says his medical problems are getting worse by the day, and they hope to get him released soon.

News 12 Staff

Jul 22, 2019, 9:48 AM

Updated 1,912 days ago

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The family of a Bronx man from Mexico detained at a New Jersey ICE facility for a year and a half says his medical problems are getting worse by the day, and they hope to get him released soon.
ICE became aware of Inocencio Roman's presence as a result of a 2018 arrest that ended up as a non-criminal violation.
"My dad was helping to pay for school,” says Carlos Roman, Inocencio’s son. “He was the one who encouraged me, so when he was taken away it was a really hard hit on me because a part of my heart was taken away."

Officials detained him shortly thereafter, leaving his son Carlos, a DACA recipient, to drop out of college and work more than 60 hours a week to keep up with rent and put food on the table for his mother and two U.S.-born sisters.

"He's not getting the proper medication that he needs, so it's like day by day, he's literally dying," says Carlos.

The 46-year-old dad has type 2 diabetes, an advanced liver disease, and had a buildup of toxins in his brain.
A severe foot infection has put his foot at risk of being amputated.
Reports of no air conditioning at Bergen County Jail, where's detained for weeks, are also not helping his health.
A crowd outside Saturday protested the conditions, eventually getting the air conditioning back on.

A Manhattan judge denied Inocencio's application for permanent residence in October of 2018, claiming it wouldn't cause his children hardship, but his lawyers are appealing it with new evidence.
His lawyers also filed a letter requesting parole last week with ICE that would allow him to receive medical attention at home while waiting for the results of the appeal.