A Chinese migrant has died after suffering what appeared to be a seizure while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a federal detention facility in Calexico, California. The man, identified as Huabing Xie, became unresponsive on September 29, according to ICE officials.
Medical staff at the detention center immediately began CPR and used a defibrillator before Xie was transported to a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead an hour later. The agency said he appeared to have suffered a seizure before losing consciousness.
ICE records show that Xie was first placed in removal proceedings on December 31, 2023, after being arrested in Tecate, California. He was released but later re-arrested on September 12 in Indio, and has been in ICE custody since then.
His death marks the second migrant fatality in ICE custody in just two weeks. On September 22, Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a 39-year-old Mexican national, died at a hospital after being transferred from the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. Ayala-Uribe, who was once a DACA recipient from 2012 to 2016, lost his status following two DUI convictions.
Why are migrant deaths in ICE custody increasing?
According to ICE data, the agency has reported 15 in-custody deaths this year — a sharp rise compared to recent years. ICE recorded 11 deaths in 2024, 7 in 2023, 3 in 2022, and 5 in 2021. The highest figure in recent history was recorded in 2020, when 18 deaths were attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Immigrant rights advocates have repeatedly urged ICE to improve health and safety conditions at its detention centers. They argue that delayed medical care, overcrowding, and poor oversight have led to unnecessary loss of life among detainees.
As investigations continue, Xie’s death has renewed calls for accountability within the U.S. immigration detention system. Several advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have demanded more transparency from ICE and independent reviews of migrant deaths in custody.
For now, the agency says it is reviewing the circumstances surrounding Xie’s death and has notified the appropriate oversight offices. However, questions remain about whether detention conditions contributed to his sudden death.