Indian national awaiting deportation dies in ICE custody

Jaspal Singh, a 57-year-old Indian national, who entered the US illegally in 2023, died in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement while awaiting deportation to India.

Singh 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, according to an ICE press release.

ICE stated it HD notified the Indian Consulate in New York of Singh’s passing and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Atlanta, which in turn notified next of kin.

READ: 58-year-old Indian who entered US ‘illegally’ dies in ICE custody (May 18, 2017)

Singh first 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, according to ICE.

On June 29, 2023, he was arrested by US Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol officers while illegally reentering the United States at the US-Mexico Border. Border Patrol transferred custody of Singh to ERO Atlanta. He was detained at the Folkston ICE Processing Center in Folkston, where he continued his immigration proceedings.

Consistent with ICE protocols, it had also notified the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility about Singh’s death.

ICE stressed it 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,” it said.

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.

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, it said.