Indian national in ICE custody dies in hospital

ST. MARYS, Georgia - An Indian national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) passed away at the Southeast Georgia Health System's Camden Campus in St. Mary's on April 15. An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death.

Jaspal Singh, 57, a citizen of India, entered the United States legally on Oct. 25, 1992.

On Jan. 21, 1998, an immigration judge ordered Singh removed from the United States, and on an unknown date, Singh self-removed to India. On June 29, 2023, he was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Border Patrol officers while illegally reentering the United States at the U.S.-Mexico Border. Border Patrol transferred custody of Singh to Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Atlanta. He was detained at the Folkston ICE Processing Center in Folkston, where he continued his immigration proceedings.

Consistent with ICE protocols, the appropriate components were notified about the death, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility.

Additionally, ICE notified the Indian Consulate in New York of Singh's passing. ERO Atlanta staff notified next of kin.

ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their 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, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained noncitizen denied emergent care.

Upon an official report of a detained noncitizen death, ERO makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media and posts a news release with relevant details on the public website within two business days, per agency policy. This information may be accessed in the ICE Newsroom.

Additionally, Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Bill (2018) require ICE to make public all reports regarding an in-custody death within 90 days.

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