California congresswoman announces bill to improve access to medical care for ICE detainees

LOS ANGELES (KYMA, NBC) - Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) is holding a press conference Wednesday.

In a press release obtained by NBC News, Rep. Kamlager-Dove is introducing a bill to ensure immigrants detained at ICE detention centers have access to medical care.

The press release said the bill's announcement is in response to Carlitos Ricardo Parias, who suffered a gunshot wound during an "immigration enforcement traffic stop" back in October of last year, and whom Kamlager-Dove said was being denied proper medical care by ICE.

"Our humanity does not end at the doors of an ICE detention center. No one should suffer in government custody because their medical needs were ignored," said Kamlager-Dove. "Yet for nearly a year, my constituent Ricardo has repeatedly sought medical care at Adelanto, only to watch his pleas go unanswered and his condition worsen. Tragically, Ricardo's story is not unique. That's why I'm introducing the Stop ICE's Medical Neglect Act to track these instances of abuse and ensure every detainee receives the timely and appropriate care they deserve."

In addition to the congresswoman, Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.) and Lou Correa (D-Calif.), along with Parias' family and lawyers and immigration advocates, are participating in the press conference.

To learn more about the bill, click here. To watch the livestream of the press conference, see attached video.