Lawmakers Demand Investigation After Immigrant’s Death in ICE Facility

The death of an immigrant, **Nenko Stanev Gantchev**, at a for-profit processing center run by **GEO Group** has prompted urgent calls for an investigation from two Democratic lawmakers. Gantchev died at the **North Lake Processing Center** in Michigan, where he was found unresponsive in his cell on **September 25, 2023**. In light of his death, **U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez** and **Rashida Tlaib** have expressed serious concerns regarding the conditions and medical care at the facility.

In a press release, **U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)** stated that it provided a “safe, secure, and humane” environment for detainees. Yet, both lawmakers are demanding a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Gantchev’s death. They have specifically called for an examination of allegations that he requested medical assistance prior to his passing but did not receive adequate care in time to save him.

Reports of medical neglect and abuse at immigrant detention centers have emerged frequently in recent months. Tlaib and Ramirez highlighted that such neglect has been documented at facilities like Florida’s **Krome North Service Processing Center** and others operated by for-profit entities such as GEO Group. The congresswomen stated, “We are deeply concerned about the death of Mr. Gantchev… and we know there have been numerous complaints from family members and advocates about inhumane conditions and inadequate medical care at North Lake.”

Just ten days before Gantchev’s death, Tlaib visited the North Lake facility to assess reported issues including cold temperatures, insufficient food, unsanitary conditions, and barriers to accessing medical care. During her visit, she encountered reports of multiple suicide attempts at the facility and noted the urgent need for more medical staff. “No human being should be trapped in cages, forced to experience dehumanizing conditions, or separated from their family,” she remarked.

The North Lake Processing Center has a troubled history. Originally a juvenile detention facility, it operated under allegations of medical neglect and abuse in the 1990s. After serving as a federal prison, it was closed in 2022 due to a directive from then-President **Joe Biden**, which prohibited private prison companies from managing federal detention facilities. The GEO Group reopened it as an ICE facility in June 2023.

In addition to Gantchev’s case, a lawsuit filed by the **ACLU of Michigan** in September revealed significant concerns regarding medical treatment at North Lake. The lawsuit claimed that **Jose Contreras Cervantes**, another inmate, was denied chemotherapy medication for nearly a month while in custody. These incidents raise pressing questions about the adequacy of healthcare provided in immigrant detention centers and the duty of care owed to detainees.

Ramirez and Tlaib pointed out that at least **30 deaths** have been reported at ICE detention centers in 2023, marking it as one of the deadliest years for immigrants in ICE custody. Gantchev, who was **56 years old** and originally from Bulgaria, had previously been arrested on various charges in the 1990s and 2000s. Although he was granted lawful permanent residence in 2005, his status was revoked in 2009, leading to an immigration judge ordering his removal in 2023.

**Christine Sauvé**, a representative from the **Michigan Immigrant Rights Center**, commented on the current immigration detention landscape, stating, “As this administration creates new barriers and releases fewer people, individuals are languishing in detention, often with delayed or inadequate medical care, while separated needlessly from their families.”

Both Ramirez and Tlaib have committed to ensuring oversight of ICE operations to hold the agency accountable and to safeguard the rights of individuals within the immigration system. They assert that the “attacks on our communities and immigrant neighbors must end.”

The call for a thorough investigation into Gantchev’s death underscores the ongoing scrutiny of the conditions within ICE facilities and the urgent need for reform in the treatment of detainees.