Michigan
Nenko Gantchev, a Bulgarian national, dies in ICE prison in Michigan
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A Bulgarian immigrant has died in a Michigan jail, in line with a federal company and a congressional supply.
Nenko Stanev Gantchev, 56, a local of Bulgaria who was arrested in Chicago, had been held on the North Lake Processing Middle in Baldwin, a jail for prisoners held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE mentioned he died on Monday, Dec. 15, on the jail, which is positioned about an hour north of Grand Rapids and operated by a non-public firm, the Geo Group.
“I’m disturbed by the reported dying at ICE’s North Lake Facility in Baldwin,” U.S. Senator Gary Peters, D-Michigan, rating member of the Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee, instructed the Free Press in an announcement on Thursday, December 18. “Folks in U.S. authorities custody should be handled humanely and have entry to life-saving medical care. Whereas the reason for this dying in Michigan stays underneath investigation, I’ve requested a proper briefing from ICE officers.”
Peters mentioned the Bulgarian immigrant’s dying “is a part of a regarding variety of deaths at ICE services this yr, together with 4 deaths reported as we speak (December 18) in america. I’ll proceed to observe ICE, together with the circumstances of detention services in Michigan and throughout the nation.”
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, mentioned Thursday that there have been 30 deaths in ICE custody since Donald Trump turned president in January.
‘That is past horrible’ Jayapal posted on X. “We should assure the dignity and humanity of detainees on this nation.”
ICE spokespeople contacted by the Free Press referred to posted a statement on ICE’s web site that confirmed Gantchev’s dying and mentioned it’s “suspected to be of pure causes,” however added that “the official explanation for dying stays underneath investigation.”
ICE mentioned he “was discovered unconscious on the ground of his cell throughout routine checks. Facility medical personnel responded, initiated CPR and contacted native emergency medical companies. EMS personnel arrived on the facility and continued medical care, and a doctor pronounced him deceased.”
ICE mentioned Gantchev has a felony historical past and was ordered by an immigration decide to depart america and return to Bulgaria in January 2023.
He was born in Bulgaria in 1969 and got here to america by aircraft in June 1995 J-1 visa for alternate guests, together with applications for college kids, academics and au pairs. He was arrested by Chicago police for theft just a few months later, in October 1995, ICE mentioned.
“The character of that arrest is unknown,” ICE mentioned.
In 1996, he was arrested once more for theft by Chicago police. In 2000, police within the Chicago suburb of River Grove arrested him for assault and battery.
In 2005, Gantchev was granted lawful everlasting resident standing by america Citizenship and Immigration Companies (USCIS). Three years later, in 2008, Gantchev was arrested by Park Ridge, Illinois police for driving underneath the affect. The next yr, Gantchev had his authorized everlasting resident standing eliminated by USCIS. Authorized residents with a felony historical past are eligible for deportation. The end result of his felony instances is unknown, ICE mentioned.
On September 23, he was arrested by ICE “on a warrant and held pending elimination proceedings.” On October 8, an immigration decide denied his try to be launched on bail; he appealed on October 17 after which died whereas the attraction was pending earlier than the Board of Immigration Appeals. Immigrant advocates have mentioned detained immigrants have more and more been denied bail whereas their instances are pending since Trump turned president.
In a joint assertion, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, and U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Illinois, mentioned: “We demand a direct, clear investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Gantchev’s dying, together with an investigation into reviews from different detainees that he requested medical consideration and didn’t obtain it in time to save lots of his life.”
State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, echoed their issues, saying in an announcement: “It’s essential that the general public learns the complete outcomes of the investigation into his dying when it’s accomplished. … Each individual deserves dignity and correct care in custody. I’ve despatched numerous inquiries to the ICE Detroit Discipline Workplace.”
No Detention Facilities Michigan, which has been advocating for immigrant detainees in North Lake for years, mentioned in an announcement to the Free Press that it’s involved about the best way persons are being handled at Geo Group’s facilities.
“We’re devastated to be taught of the dying of Nenko Gantchev at North Lake, which we all know might have been prevented,” the assertion from No Detention Facilities Michigan mentioned. “Nobody ought to die behind these partitions. And we’re deeply disturbed, however not stunned, by the echoes of previous occasions on this facility. … Regardless of the full story of Nenko’s dying, what we all know for positive is that prisons and detention facilities, by their very nature, create the circumstances wherein medical crises can develop and pose critical threats to the well being of incarcerated folks and others exterior their partitions.”
The advocacy group mentioned the case is “emblematic of the U.S. immigration detention system and its inherent terror and cruelty.”
“ICE is dedicated to making sure that each one detainees are in a secure, safe and humane atmosphere,” the company wrote within the assertion on Gantchev’s dying. “Complete medical care is supplied from the time people arrive and all through their keep. All folks in ICE custody obtain medical, dental, and psychological well being examinations inside 12 hours of arrival at every detention facility; an entire well being evaluation inside 14 days of coming into ICE custody or arriving at a facility; entry to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time throughout detention will a detained alien be denied emergency care.”
Geo Group, which has confronted criticism lately, referred questions in regards to the dying to ICE.
Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com, X @nwarikoo or Facebook @nwarikoo