# Man dies inside Otay Mesa Detention Center 'safety cell'; Proposition 38; Día de Muertos

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On Oct. 9, ICE agents arrested a 43-year-old Guatemalan man during an operation in Escondido. He died two weeks later in the Otay Mesa Detention Facility, inside an "assigned safety cell."

While ICE says his death is under investigation, San Diego county officials are demanding an outside probe into his death.

On KPBS Roundtable, we talk about the state of immigration detention and enforcement ahead of the midterm election.

Then, we break down the arguments for and against Proposition 38 (https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/19/california-prop-38-immunology-research-bond-oddly-specific-earmark/) — which would create an $8 billion bond to fund immunology and immunotherapy research.

Plus, we talk about local celebrations for Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, including a KPBS digital ofrenda (https://www.kpbs.org/day-of-the-dead-digital-altar-ofrenda-san-diego) to honor community members' loved ones.

Guests:

• Kate Morrissey, immigration reporter, Daylight San Diego (https://www.daylightsandiego.org/) co-founder, "Beyond the Border" (https://beyondthebordernews.substack.com/) • Elliot Spagat (https://apnews.com/hub/elliott-spagat) , U.S. Immigration News Editor, Associated Press • Jonathan Wosen (https://www.statnews.com/staff/jonathan-wosen/) , West Coast biotech and life sciences reporter, STAT News • Marielena Castellanos (https://www.kpbs.org/staff/marielena-castellanos) , South Bay engagement producer • Jacob Aere (https://www.kpbs.org/staff/jacob-aere) , general assignment reporter, KPBS

Keep reading:

• ICE detainee dies at Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego (https://www.daylightsandiego.org/ice-detainee-dies-at-otay-mesa-detention-center-in-san-diego/) • Family of man who died at Otay detention center says he had no previous medical conditions (https://www.kpbs.org/news/border-immigration/2026/10/27/man-who-died-in-ice-custody-at-otay-mesa-detention-center-idd) • Guatemalan man who died…

- What it is: Film
- Length: 47 min
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