Kuya G is a father and legal permanent resident who migrated to the U.S. when he was 18 years old in search of livelihood after experiencing poverty and joblessness in the Philippines. Kuya G has been detained for several months at the NWDC in Tacoma while suffering severe medical conditions that have been denied medical care countless times by ICE and the Philippine Consulate. Instead, NWDC medical staff intentionally failed to give him proper medication and instead provided laxatives and vitamins which exacerbated or did nothing to treat his actual medical condition. Tanggol Migrante Movement made monthly calls and demands to the Philippine Consulate and Embassy to intervene to provide necessary and comprehensive medical attention, but was met with silence.

After months of neglect and Kuya G begging for help, he was finally admitted to St. Joseph’s Medical Center where after multiple tests and procedures, he was discovered to have contracted ulcerative colitis which has the potential to develop into colon cancer. A week after being discharged, his foot swelled impeding his ability to walk. He returned to the hospital and was found to have a severe bone infection that required the amputation of his toe. As of October 28th, he has undergone 2 separate surgeries for the amputation.

This is a preventable consequence of medical violence due to delayed treatment at the hands of the NWDC and GEO Group. The Tanggol Migrante Movement is also appalled by the blatant inaction of the Philippine Consulate. Only after Tanggol Migrante Movement’s press conference on Friday, October 24th, did the Philippine Consulate give Kuya G a call for a welfare check. They claim they have been monitoring the situation closely, but if this is true - why would they allow his health to have gotten so bad?

To the Philippine Consulate

• Ensure Kuya G has access to advocates beyond the Consulate itself
• Launch a human rights investigation to the gross medical neglect of the NWDC

To the Philippine Government

• Allow for an independent investigation held by community organizations including Tanggol Migrante Movement of the misconduct of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Migrant Workers

To Geo Group and ICE

• Ensure Kuya G has a safe and sterile place to recover; do not return him to the NWDC before he is fully recovered
• Allow health care workers to do their jobs without interference or endangerment by ICE
• Allow Kuya G full access to his legal counsel

Signatories:

Tanggol Migrante Movement
Defend Migrants Alliance
Migrante Southcenter
Malaya Movement Tacoma
PUSO Tacoma