AtulKumar Babubhai Patel, a 58-year old indian national died under the custody of the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday.
As per the statement released by ICE, Patel took a flight from Quito, Ecuador and landed at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on May 10. He was denied entry into the United States as Patel did not have the necessary immigration papers. Consequentially, he was detained at the Atlanta City Detention Centre by the ICE officials.
When Patel underwent the initial medical screening, it was found that he had high blood pressure and diabetes, said ICE officials.
Two days later, on Saturday, when a nurse was checking Patel's blood sugar, noticed that he was short of breath. He was immediately rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital where he later succumbed, ICE said.
Preliminary investigation reveals that Patel died from complications of a congestive heart failure. In a news release, ICE assured that it was committed to the health and welfare of any person under its custody. The agency also made it clear that fatalities in ICE custody were 'rare.'
Following protocol, the ICE has informed the representatives of the Indian consular, who have in turn, informed the family members of Patel.
Second death this week
Patel's death comes a day after another immigrant was found dead in Georgia.
Jean Jimenez Joseph, a 27-year old Panamanian national was found in his cell with a sheet around his neck. He was in solitary confinement for over two weeks at the Steward Detention Centre in Lumpkin, Georgia. Federal authorities investigating the case said that preliminary indications revealed that Joseph had committed suicide by strangulating himself.
Outrage over the recent immigrant arrests
The immigrant right activists have criticised the Trump Administration after the ICE announced that the detention of illegal immigrants rose to 37.6% since 2016. In January, President Trump removed restrictions on deportation of illegal immigrants. This crackdown has witnessed over 40,000 people being arrested in the 100 days since Trump issued the executive order.
The Trump administration has also decided to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico, to reduce the number immigrants entering illegally into the country. This decision has also stirred a massive outrage amongst immigrant right activists, who want the President to remove these conditions.
