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Young man with leukemia detained at traffic stop on way to chemotherapy, shackled through months of hospital stays

Apr 2026·Location: Florence, AZ

Ramon Mendez-Tum (a pseudonym used in the report), a 24-year-old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was detained by ICE at a traffic stop while a passenger in a car on his way to a chemotherapy appointment, and held at the Florence Detention Center from October 2025 through April 2026. Before receiving specialty care he developed an infection at his PICC line. While receiving chemotherapy he was constantly chained by the leg or handcuffed and watched 24/7 by guards; on multiple occasions he was hospitalized for 3-4 weeks at a time, shackled to his bed, and barred from any contact with family or legal counsel, and even hospital social workers were denied private conversations with him. Back at the facility he was held alone in medical isolation. His lawyers at the Florence Project could not speak with him for over three months, about 10 of his court hearings had to be rescheduled, and ICE denied multiple release requests despite a measles outbreak in the facility. An immigration judge finally released him after six months.

Timeline

Apr 2026—Released by an immigration judge after six months in detention
Jan 2026—His lawyers speak with him for the first time in over three months
Oct 2025—Detained at a traffic stop on the way to a chemotherapy appointment and taken to the Florence Detention Center
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