A Nicaraguan citizen identified as Ernesto Rocha-Cuadra, arrested while trying to enter the United States illegally, died on Friday, June 23, while in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).
Through a release, the immigration authorities detailed that the 42-year-old Nicaraguan died at La Salle General Hospital, Jena, Louisiana. “Hospital doctors reported that the preliminary cause of death was cardiac arrest,” they said.
ICE indicated that Ernesto Rocha-Cuadra was detained by border patrol near Andrade, California, on April 17, 2022, while trying to cross the border into the United States illegally.
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“On April 26, 2022, Rocha was transferred to the custody of ERO New Orleans to await the completion of his removal proceedings,” it added.
The immigration authorities also indicated that according to their protocols they had already reported the death of the citizen to the Nicaraguan Consulate in Miami. “The appropriate components have been notified of the death, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR),” the statement read.
They also stressed that they remain “committed to ensuring that all persons in their custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments.”
“Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment people arrive and throughout their stay. All persons in ICE custody receive a medical, dental, and mental health intake examination within 12 hours of arrival at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody ICE or getting to a center, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained non-citizen denied emergency care,” they added.
On the other hand, ICE specified that upon receiving an official report of the death of a detained non-citizen, the Office of Detention and Deportation (ERO) is notifying the case to Congressional authorities, non-governmental organizations and to the media.
