---

 [ SAY WHAT? ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=376)

#  For Weeks, She Pleaded for Medical Help … Where was ICE?

June 03 2019

Written by Eoin Higgins.

<a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)

**![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/June-2019/045j.png)**

INTEL REPORT--A Salvadoran trans woman died in ICE custody on June 1, the first day of Pride Month.

Johana Medina was a migrant from El Salvador. She was seeking asylum in the U.S.

Known to her friends as Joa, Johana [passed away Saturday night](https://planettransgender.com/johana-medina-transgender-refugee-dies-in-ice-custody-on-first-day-of-pride) from complications due to HIV/AIDS. Her death was announced on the Diversidad Sin Fronteras Facebook page on Sunday.

In a statement, Casa Migrante trans leader Grecia, who was close with Johana, said that ICE agents ignored Johana's pleas for help as her illness became worse while in custody.

"For weeks, she pleaded for medical help, referring to health problems caused by complications with HIV/AIDS," said Grecia. "After two months of suffering, Joana became extremely ill and unconscious forcing ICE to take her to Las Palmas del Sol Hospital in El Paso, Texas."

Grecia visited Johana in the intensive care unit at the hospital and likened her friend's condition to that of Roxana Hernández, a trans woman who [died](https://www.thecut.com/2018/12/roxana-hernndez-a-transgender-woman-died-in-ice-custody.html) in ICE custody in May 2018 under still unclear circumstances.

"When I looked at her I said that what happened a year ago to Roxana in the month of May could happen to Joa right in there," said Grecia. "And it did."

[At least](https://www.aila.org/infonet/deaths-at-adult-detention-centers) 25 people [have died](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/22-immigrants-died-ice-detention-centers-during-past-2-years-n954781) in ICE custody over the past two years, [including](https://splinternews.com/two-immigrant-children-have-died-in-u-s-custody-in-the-1834900182) six children. Conditions in holding facilities, as *Common Dreams* reported Friday, are so bad that overcrowding is making it hard for people to breathe.

*(Eoin Higgins writes for Common Dreams … where this piece was first posted.)*

*-cw*

 [ ![save up to 4000 on used evs](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20ev%20ad2.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

 [ ![Your Free DIY Lawn-To-Garden Resource](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/LADWP_LEAP_300x250.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/88 "LA DWP - Home")

 [ ![Pay Water Bill Help](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20-%20cares-ad.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")

 [ ![Donna Tryfman](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/Donna-Tryfman-Ad-Final-Complete-Border-White-Margin.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")

 ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays &amp; Thursdays

 Email

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/1c/072d-1c016ddf.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33319:when-the-last-minute-power-play-failed-sacramento-finally-ran-out-of-time&catid=375)

### [When the Last-Minute Power Play Failed: Sacramento Finally Ran Out of Time](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33319:when-the-last-minute-power-play-failed-sacramento-finally-ran-out-of-time&catid=375)

MY THOUGHTS - Gavin Newsom came to the final days of his final regular legislative session with one more major problem…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/88/071n-88bb0b90.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33300:follow-the-money-how-does-a-3-662-apartment-become-affordable-housing&catid=312)

### [Follow the Money: How Does a $3,662 Apartment Become “Affordable Housing”?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33300:follow-the-money-how-does-a-3-662-apartment-become-affordable-housing&catid=312)

INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS - ED 1 Is Redeveloping Los Angeles—One Neighborhood at a Time You know that persistent, annoyin…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4b/070i-4ba64015.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33283:newsoms-next-immigration-gamble-defy-federal-law-and-dare-washington-to-fight-back&catid=375)

### [Newsom’s Next Immigration Gamble: Defy Federal Law And Dare Washington To Fight Back](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33283:newsoms-next-immigration-gamble-defy-federal-law-and-dare-washington-to-fight-back&catid=375)

MY THOUGHTS - Gov. Gavin Newsom is about to decide whether California should take another extraordinary gamble with fed…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/44/071d-441a7ed2.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33308:as-california-debated-sharing-data-on-drivers-homeland-security-subpoenaed-17-million-records&catid=425)

### [As California Debated Sharing Data On Drivers, Homeland Security Subpoenaed 17 Million Records](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33308:as-california-debated-sharing-data-on-drivers-homeland-security-subpoenaed-17-million-records&catid=425)

TECHNOLOGY - California lawmakers wrestled with a difficult question earlier this summer: Could the state safely share…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/1a/071i-1a9188c0.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33304:l-a-s-unlimited-political-money-pipeline-when-public-officials-become-fundraisers-for-powerful-interests&catid=401)

### [L.A.’s Unlimited Political Money Pipeline: When Public Officials Become Fundraisers for Powerful Interests](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33304:l-a-s-unlimited-political-money-pipeline-when-public-officials-become-fundraisers-for-powerful-interests&catid=401)

THE BOTTOM LINE - Los Angeles limits campaign contributions, restricts gifts to public officials and requires financial…

---

##  [ SAY WHAT? ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Nov-2024/093p.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29907:oh-for-f-ks-sake&catid=376)### [Oh For F\*\*k's Sake](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29907:oh-for-f-ks-sake&catid=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Oct-2024/082n.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29692:a-monument-to-cruelty&catid=376)### [A Monument To Cruelty](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29692:a-monument-to-cruelty&catid=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2024/074i.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29532:omg-now-theyre-coming-for-our-cats-and-chairs-and-ducks&catid=376)### [OMG Now They're Coming For Our Cats and Chairs and Ducks](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29532:omg-now-theyre-coming-for-our-cats-and-chairs-and-ducks&catid=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/June-2024/049m.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29066:shame-shame-shame-martha-ann-is-an-ungodly-piece-of-work&catid=376)### [Shame, Shame, Shame: Martha-Ann Is an Ungodly Piece of Work](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29066:shame-shame-shame-martha-ann-is-an-ungodly-piece-of-work&catid=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2024/038r.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28868:they-walk-among-us-mississippi-goddamn-still&catid=376)### [They Walk Among Us: Mississippi Goddamn, Still](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28868:they-walk-among-us-mississippi-goddamn-still&catid=376)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>