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A Cuban migrant has been detained for two months by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas and reports that his health is deteriorating without receiving proper medical care.
“I am losing my sight and no one is taking care of me,” said Ángel Vera Oliva, a resident of Austin, in statements reported by Univision Austin.
Vera was arrested on September 2 after attending a immigration appointment in San Antonio. Since then, he has remained in custody at a detention center in Caney City, east of Texas, where his family claims he has not received the treatment he needs for a chronic illness.
According to his wife, who preferred not to show her face, the situation is desperate. “I'm going to have to move to Florida with my family because I have nothing else to do. I need help taking care of my son and starting to work,” she said through tears.
The Cuban suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory disease that affects the spine and requires constant medication. His sister, Naiviv Vera, reported that at the time of his arrest, he was undergoing medical treatment. "He explained that they were administering infusions for his illness, and yet they still arrested him," she stated.
In the past few weeks, Ángel has also developed uveitis, an eye inflammation that can lead to loss of vision if not treated in time. “Light hurts me, my eye is burning, and I still haven’t seen a specialist,” he said during a call from the detention center.
Dr. Illan Shapiro, a physician at AltaMed, explained to Univision that uveitis can stem from infections or autoimmune diseases and requires immediate attention. "When that part of the eye becomes inflamed, light starts to cause pain and can damage the internal structures if not treated," he warned.
Despite family requests and the seriousness of his condition, ICE has not responded to Univision regarding the type of medical care the Cuban migrant is receiving. In the meantime, his family is calling for his release on health grounds, fearing that his situation worsens with each passing day in custody.
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