Vietnamese ICE detainee dies in custody; investigation launched into circumstances surrounding death.

A Vietnamese national passed away over the weekend while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following a series of alarming health issues that included seizures, vomiting, and unresponsiveness, according to information provided by immigration officials this Tuesday. The individual, identified as Tien Xuan Phan, had been detained at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center located in South Central Texas for approximately seven weeks prior to his death.

Phan, 55, was first admitted to Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital in Karnes County on Friday after experiencing severe health complications. He was subsequently air-lifted to Methodist Hospital Northeast in Live Oak, a community situated just northeast of San Antonio, where he received further medical evaluation. Tragically, Phan was pronounced dead at the hospital on Saturday just before 6 p.m. The precise cause of his death is still under investigation, and ICE is mandated to release all reports related to in-custody deaths within 90 days.

Phan had a long history with the U.S. immigration system. According to agency records, he was ordered removed by an immigration judge on April 2, 2012, but did not leave the country as instructed. Deportation officers from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations took Phan into custody on June 2. It remains unclear whether he had any prior criminal record, as officials have not disclosed that information.

Phan’s passing marks a troubling statistic, as he becomes at least the ninth immigrant and the second individual from Vietnam to die while in ICE custody in the current year. This data is drawn from the agency’s detainee death reporting database. For context, a total of 12 foreign nationals died while in ICE custody during the previous year.

The circumstances surrounding Phan’s death prompt questions regarding the health and wellbeing of individuals detained by ICE, particularly given the reported increase in fatalities. As the investigation unfolds, advocates and human rights organizations continue to call for greater transparency and accountability from ICE, especially concerning the treatment of detainees in their care. The community awaits further details regarding the investigation and the comprehensive circumstances leading to this tragic event.

Media News Source emphasizes the need for enhanced oversight in immigration detention facilities to prevent further incidents of this nature, stressing the importance of addressing the health care challenges faced by detainees.