U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Apr. 13 that Alejandro Cabrera Clemente, a 49-year-old Mexican national with a criminal history, died while in ICE custody at Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the health and safety of individuals held in immigration detention centers across the United States.
According to ICE, Cabrera was found unresponsive on April 11, prompting staff at Winn Correctional Center to initiate life-saving measures and call for emergency medical assistance. He was transported by ambulance to Winn Parish Medical Center, where medical staff continued resuscitative efforts. Despite these actions, an onsite physician pronounced him deceased at approximately 8:51 am.
Cabrera had entered the United States illegally over 25 years ago and had prior convictions for disorderly conduct, drug possession, probation violation, as well as an arrest for domestic violence. Additional charges for domestic violence, failure to appear, disorderly conduct and a traffic offense were pending disposition. ICE arrested Cabrera on Jan. 8 in Chattanooga, Tennessee and transferred him to Winn Correctional Center five days later while he awaited removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
ICE stated that official notifications regarding in-custody deaths are made to Congress, nongovernmental organizations and the media upon confirmation of such incidents. The agency also posts relevant details on its public website as required by congressional requirements described in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2018. Reports must be publicized within 90 days and are accessible through ICE.gov’s Detainee Death Reporting page.
In its statement regarding care standards at detention facilities, ICE said: “Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay.” The agency added: “All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings 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 medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care.”
