Border Patrol agents were observed driving in the city of Costa Mesa on the rainy Tuesday of October 14th, around 11:50 a.m., as they conducted a “roving” raid, grabbing any individuals off the street who they believed to be undocumented.
Several community watch members in the area at the time confirmed that a total of three people were kidnapped. One of the individuals they grabbed was Gabriel Garcia Aviles, who is described as a beloved member of the community; a 54-year-old family man who has a work permit and has been in the U.S. for over 30 years.
Aviles would pass away just ten days later after being in custody in the Adelanto Detention Facility, with no clear cause of death given, leaving his family distraught and desperately looking for answers. His passing marks the second death this year with a connection to the San Bernardino County-based detention center.
L.A. Taco spoke with Avelis’ daughter, son, and daughter-in-law about their experience with the Adelanto Detention Facility. They explained that they wanted to tell their story to raise awareness of the harmful reality of these raids, in the hopes it doesn’t happen to anyone else.