Cuban Immigrant Died In ICE Custody In Suspected Suicide, Agency Says

A Cuban immigrant tragically died in U.S. immigration custody in Georgia, with authorities suspecting it was a suicide, according to a press release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday.

Denny Adan Gonzalez, 33, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Stewart Detention Center and was pronounced dead less than an hour later, ICE reported.

President Donald Trump’s administration has been pushing for increased detention of immigrants as part of its deportation efforts. The number of individuals detained by ICE has risen significantly since Trump took office, with plans for further expansion.

Unfortunately, deaths of immigrants in ICE custody have reached a two-decade high, with 18 reported deaths in the first four months of this year.

Gonzalez entered the U.S. in 2019 but was deemed “inadmissible” and deported in 2020. He later crossed the border illegally in 2022 and was released with an order of supervision. He was arrested in North Carolina for assault and domestic violence before being taken into ICE custody and transferred to the Stewart Detention Center.

The private prison company CoreCivic operates the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia.

Ryan Gustin, a spokesperson for CoreCivic, expressed deep sadness over Gonzalez’s passing and emphasized the seriousness with which they take any such incidents.

Stewart Detention Center has faced criticism from immigrant advocates for its remote location, restrictive environment, and alleged inadequate medical care.

ICE has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

The recent Republican-backed spending package provides funding for ICE to expand detentions through 2029, with plans to detain an average of 99,000 immigrants in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, resources are available through organizations like 988lifeline.org and dontcallthepolice.com. International support can be found through the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

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