Detention and Limited Medical Care: The Case of Carlitos Ricardo Parias

Carlitos Ricardo Parias received a certificate of recognition from Jose Ugarte, chief of staff for Los Angeles City Council member Curren Price, in August 2025. This event occurred shortly before his arrest by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Los Angeles.

Parias’ son, Ulises, routinely makes a two-hour drive to visit him at the Adelanto Detention Center in California. They keep in contact through phone calls where Ulises shares updates about his sister and college life. Parias’ health issues, including arm pain, headaches, and blurred vision, have been a concern since the incident where he was shot during his arrest.

Immigration attorneys claim Parias is not receiving adequate medical care, lacking proper pain management and physical therapy for his injuries from the shot to his elbow. Carlitos entered the U.S. from Mexico in 2002 and lived in Los Angeles with his children for over two decades. His social media presence, aimed at documenting community events and immigration arrests, attracted attention from ICE.

In October, a confrontation with ICE officers led to Parias being shot while inside his car. Body camera footage shows officers surrounding and shattering his car’s window before the situation escalated. This incident raised questions about the accountability and oversight of federal law enforcement’s use of force.

After being hospitalized, Parias faced criminal charges of assault on a federal officer. Although his charges were dismissed, he remains in ICE custody due to policies targeting individuals without legal status. The legal process has been challenging, as Parias’ attorneys have petitioned for his release without success.

Conditions within the immigration detention centers have come under scrutiny, focusing on medical care’s adequacy for detainees. Despite legislative attempts to improve oversight, options remain limited without control of Congress, leaving advocates and lawmakers like Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove searching for solutions.

Meanwhile, Parias’ son Ulises juggles responsibilities at home while continuing his education. The family’s struggle underscores the broader impact of detention policies and the hurdles faced by families awaiting resolution of their immigration cases.