A tragic incident has occurred at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, resulting in the death of a detainee.
Public outcry continues to mount as individuals are being detained, with many raising concerns about the aggressive measures reportedly used by ICE personnel.
The deceased, Huabing Xie, was identified as an undocumented immigrant from the People’s Republic of China.
On September 29, Xie reportedly suffered a seizure at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico and was subsequently taken to the El Centro Regional Medical Center.
According to ICE, Xie became unresponsive at approximately 2:13 pm, prompting staff to perform CPR.
An external defibrillator was also utilized while waiting for emergency medical responders, but he was declared dead at the hospital.
The passing of Xie comes shortly after another detainee, Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39, from Mexico, who died on September 22 at the Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville.
The cause of Ayala-Uribe’s death remains under investigation.
Xie was initially detained near Tecate, California, on December 31, 2023.
He was instructed to appear before the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review but was released on an order of recognizance on the same day.
This order allows temporary parole under specific conditions, such as reporting to an ICE field office and seeking approval before relocating.
Xie was re-arrested by Border Patrol on September 12 in Indio, California, and placed in ICE custody.
Since the beginning of Trump’s current term, fourteen individuals have died while detained by ICE.
Following Xie’s death, ICE notified the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Chinese consulate.
In a statement, ICE asserted: “ICE remains dedicated to ensuring that everyone in its custody resides in safe, secure, and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout their entire stay.
“All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental, and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to scheduled medical appointments, and 24-hour emergency care. At no point during ICE detention is an alien denied urgent care.
“Reports of in-custody deaths are posted on the ICE website within two business days, and additional details are made public within 90 days.”