A Georgian immigrant has died while in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a detention facility in Louisiana.
ICE says 43-year-old Mamuka Artmeladze died on June 4 at the Winn Correctional Center after being found unconscious.
The agency says staff called emergency medical services and began life-saving measures before he was transferred to a local medical centre, where CPR continued. He was pronounced dead at around 11:22 p.m. local time. An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death.
ICE said Artmeladze was arrested in New Orleans in February and was being held after authorities determined he was not lawfully present in the United States.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it is reviewing the incident.
ABC News reports that Artmeladze is the 50th immigrant to die in ICE custody during US President Donald Trump’s second administration, citing data on detention-related deaths.
The report adds that the increase in deaths in ICE custody has raised concerns among lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates over conditions in detention centres during the ongoing immigration crackdown.
ICE also recently rescinded a policy requiring the agency to report deaths of former detainees occurring within 30 days of their release from federal custody.
