Ismael Ayala Uribe

Ismael Ayala Uribe came to the United States from Mexico when he was about four years old. He grew up in Orange County, attended Westminster High School, and spent most of his life working, including nearly fifteen years at the same auto wash.

He had previously been protected under the DACA program, which allowed him to remain in the country where he had been raised. After his arrest during an immigration raid, he was transferred to the Adelanto immigration detention center.

Not long after arriving, he became ill, first with a cough and fever, and then with severe pain and shaking. Despite repeatedly asking for help, he was given minimal treatment and returned to his dorm after being briefly evaluated. His condition worsened. Within weeks of his detention, he died at the age of thirty nine.

Ismael’s death reflects the vulnerability of people held in immigration detention, particularly those who have spent most of their lives in the United States. He was not a stranger to this country. It was his home. His life, like many others, existed in the space between belonging and exclusion. Through this project, his portrait becomes a memorial, restoring his presence as an individual and honoring a life that was lived, worked, and loved here.

For the clearest detail and strongest finished piece, I recommend using cardstock and a cutting machine. Cardstock provides the stability needed to hold the fine lines and structure of the design. You can download the image directly from this site or access the full set on the Cricut website under the What Remains Collection. These templates are free to use for personal and community projects, but they may not be sold or used for commercial purposes.

To download the PNG file, click on the image to the left, open a new page and right click to save on to your computer. Alternately, you can visit the collection page on the Cricut website for all the files here.