Lawmakers Demand Investigation After Immigrant’s Death in ICE Facility

A recent incident involving the death of an immigrant named Nenko Stanev Gantchev at a facility operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has prompted two Democratic lawmakers to call for a thorough investigation. Gantchev was found deceased in his cell at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan, on October 2, 2023. His death has raised serious concerns about the conditions and medical care provided to detainees in ICE facilities.

In a press release issued by ICE, the agency claimed that it provided a “safe, secure, and humane” environment for detainees. However, this assertion has been met with skepticism. Representatives Delia Ramirez and Rashida Tlaib expressed their alarm over the circumstances surrounding Gantchev’s death, urging the federal government to conduct an “immediate, transparent investigation.” They highlighted reports from other detainees that Gantchev had requested medical assistance, which they claim was not provided in a timely manner.

The lawmakers emphasized that there is a troubling history of medical neglect and abuse reported at immigration detention facilities, including those managed by for-profit companies like GEO Group, which operates the North Lake facility. “We are deeply concerned about the death of Mr. Gantchev, an Illinois resident who was detained at the for-profit GEO Group’s North Lake Processing Center,” stated Ramirez and Tlaib. They raised questions about the natural causes cited by ICE, given ongoing complaints regarding inhumane conditions and inadequate medical care reported at the facility.

Just ten days prior to Gantchev’s death, Tlaib conducted an oversight visit at North Lake. During her visit, she received alarming reports about cold temperatures, unsanitary conditions, and inadequate food, as well as difficulties detainees faced in accessing medical care. She noted, “No human being should be trapped in cages, forced to experience dehumanizing conditions, or separated from their family.”

The North Lake Processing Center has a contentious history, having previously operated as a juvenile detention facility in the 1990s. It later served as a federal prison until it was closed in 2022 following an executive order from then-President Joe Biden, which banned private prison companies from operating federal detention centers. The facility was reopened as an ICE center in June 2023.

A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan in September 2023 alleged that a detainee at North Lake, Jose Contreras Cervantes, did not receive necessary chemotherapy for leukemia for nearly a month. This case, along with numerous complaints regarding the treatment of detainees, has led Ramirez and Tlaib to advocate for accountability at ICE facilities.

They pointed out that at least 30 deaths have been reported at ICE detention centers so far this year, making it the deadliest year for immigrants in ICE custody. Gantchev, aged 56 and originally from Bulgaria, had a complex legal history with immigration authorities. He was arrested by ICE agents in Chicago in September 2023 and had previously lost his lawful permanent resident status in 2009.

Christine Sauvé, a representative from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, commented on the broader issues within the immigration detention system, stating that there has been “heightened cruelty” in recent years. She emphasized that as barriers for detainees have increased, many individuals are enduring prolonged detention with insufficient medical care while separated from their families.

Ramirez and Tlaib concluded their call for investigation with a commitment to continuing oversight of ICE. They stated, “The Trump administration’s attacks on our communities and immigrant neighbors must end. We will continue to provide oversight to hold ICE accountable and protect our residents and communities.”

This ongoing situation underscores the critical need for transparency and reform within immigration detention facilities, particularly regarding the treatment and care of detainees.