ICE detainee passes away at Eloy Detention Center

PHOENIX — A Guatemalan woman in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) passed away Sunday at the Eloy Detention Center, of an apparent suicide.

Elsa Guadalupe-Gonzales, 24, was found unresponsive in her cell Sunday evening by another detainee, who found her hanging. Detention facility staff immediately called 911. Emergency medical technicians responded to the scene, but were unable to revive Guadalupe-Gonzales. She was pronounced dead at 6:06 p.m.

Guadalupe-Gonzales, who had recently crossed the border unlawfully, originally came into ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations custody after she was encountered March 18 by U.S. Border Patrol near Nogales, Ariz. She had been detained at the Eloy Detention Center since March 20, awaiting immigration hearings related to her removal case. While at Eloy, Guadalupe-Gonzales received two routine medical screenings, but did not seek any medical or mental health treatment.

ICE has notified the Guatemalan consulate. Consistent with ICE protocol, the appropriate state health and local law enforcement agencies have also been informed.