Mexican man in ICE custody passes away at Georgia hospital

ATLANTA — A 57-year-old Mexican man in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) passed away, Jan. 30, at the Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Georgia. The preliminary cause of death was reported by hospital medical officials to be cardiopulmonary arrest, secondary to complications of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Felipe Montes was pronounced dead at 12:31 a.m. (EDT) by medical professionals. Montes was admitted into the hospital from the Stewart Detention Center on Jan. 10, two weeks after his arrival into ICE custody on Dec. 28.

Consistent with the agency’s protocols, the appropriate agencies have been notified about the death, including the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Additionally, ICE has notified the Mexican Consulate of Montes’ death; Mexican consular officials have notified his next of kin.

ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive, agency-wide review of this incident, as it does following all deaths in custody.