A Venezuelan immigrant died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as he was being transferred between detention centers in Georgia, the agency said.
Federal authorities identified the immigrant as Jesús Manuel Arenas-Silva, 45, who had been detained just four days before his death.
In a statement, ICE said Arenas-Silva was found unresponsive at approximately 7:46 a.m. on July 13 while aboard a bus transporting detainees from the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla to the Folkston ICE Processing Center (D. Ray James) in Folkston.
The agency said emergency responders transported Arenas-Silva to Irwin County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“The suspected cause of death was cardiac arrest; the official cause of death is pending additional medical examination,” the statement said.
According to ICE, Arenas-Silva first attempted to enter the United States through the San Luis Port of Entry in Arizona on Oct. 1, 2021, where he was deemed inadmissible. The agency said he later entered the country illegally on or about Oct. 11, 2021, near Calexico, California, where he was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol. He was issued a Notice to Appear in immigration court the following day.
An immigration judge in Atlanta ordered his removal to Venezuela on April 27, 2026, and Arenas-Silva was arrested on July 9 during an immigration enforcement operation in Dallas, Georgia, according to ICE.
Person identified as his sister says he needed medication
A person identified by the advocacy group Detention Watch Network as Arenas-Silva’s sister, whose name was not released, said in a statement that his arrest was “traumatic” for the family.
“We begged ICE not to take him because of his medical needs, but they ignored our pleas. They also ignored our request to at least allow him to take all of his medications with him, authorizing only one medication,” she said.
According to Detention Watch Network, Arenas-Silva later told his family member that ICE had not provided him with the medication he needed. The organization did not specify the medical condition or medications involved.
“He was a loving son and brother, a caring and hardworking man who came to this country seeking better opportunities. His tragic death has left our family with an enormous void and profound grief,” the statement continued.
In its statement, ICE said Arenas-Silva received medical care and was evaluated by healthcare professionals during his detention.
Deaths in ICE custody
At least 52 people have died while in ICE custody since President Donald Trump’s inauguration through to June 4, 2026, according to a Human Rights Watch report.
“The death rate in ICE custody is at its highest level in more than a decade and has more than doubled since the start of Trump’s second term. That rate is nearly four times higher than during the Biden administration and more than two and a half times higher than during Trump’s first administration,” the report states.
Under ICE’s 2021 policy on “Detainee Death Reporting, Review, and Notification Requirements,” the agency issues public notifications of deaths in its custody to all interested parties, including the general public, within two business days.
