ICE detainee passes away at Nebraska hospital

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — A Guatemalan man in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) passed away of an apparent cardiac arrest Tuesday at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Moises Tino-Lopez, 23, had been detained by ICE at the Hall County Department of Corrections in Grand Island pending reinstatement of his previous removal order.

After he showed signs of a possible seizure on Sept. 12, Tino-Lopez was taken off a scheduled removal flight for further medical evaluation at the recommendation of the ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC).  He was taken to a private medical facility for further evaluation and given a CT scan. He was returned to ICE detention after being cleared by medical personnel.

Tino-Lopez suffered a seizure Sept. 19 and was treated by the facility’s medical staff.  Medical staff immediately started CPR after he was found unresponsive, and he was transported to St. Francis Hospital. 

At 4:05 p.m. CDT on Sept. 27, St. Francis hospital staff declared Tino-Lopez deceased.

On Aug. 30, 2012, an immigration judge ordered Tino-Lopez removed to Guatemala. ICE carried out this order on Sept. 26, 2012.  Tino-Lopez later illegally re-entered the United States in 2014 and was arrested by ICE officers in August 2016.

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

Tino-Lopez is the tenth detainee to pass away in ICE custody in fiscal year 2016.