Fact Check: "First ICE detainee dies in transport in a decade!"
What We Know
On May 8, 2025, a 68-year-old Mexican national named Abelardo Avellaneda Delgado became the first ICE detainee in at least a decade to die while being transported from a local jail to a federal detention center. His death occurred during a transport between Lowndes County Jail in Georgia and Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. The exact cause of death is still under investigation, but reports indicate that he had been in a wheelchair and was unable to communicate during a family visit shortly before his death (The Guardian, [source-4]).
Additionally, Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian woman, died in ICE custody at the Broward Transitional Center in Florida on April 28, 2025. Blaise had been in custody for over two months and reportedly complained of chest pain before her death. Her case has raised concerns regarding the adequacy of medical care provided to detainees (NPR, [source-3]).
Analysis
The claim that Avellaneda Delgado is the first ICE detainee to die during transport in a decade is corroborated by multiple sources, including a report from The Guardian (source-4), which explicitly states this fact. The report highlights the increasing risks associated with the privatization of detainee transport and the pressures of the current administration's immigration policies. The credibility of The Guardian is generally high, as it is a well-established news organization known for investigative journalism.
In contrast, the case of Marie Ange Blaise, while tragic, does not pertain to transport but rather to in-custody death due to alleged inadequate medical care. This distinction is crucial, as it emphasizes that while there are ongoing concerns about the treatment of detainees, the specific claim regarding deaths during transport is focused solely on Avellaneda Delgado's case.
Both incidents underscore significant issues within ICE's operational practices and the treatment of detainees, but they address different aspects of the broader conversation about immigration enforcement and detainee welfare.
Conclusion
The claim that "the first ICE detainee dies in transport in a decade" is True. Abelardo Avellaneda Delgado's death during transport is a documented fact, supported by reliable sources. This incident reflects ongoing concerns about the conditions and treatment of detainees within the ICE system, particularly as the agency faces increased scrutiny and calls for reform.
Sources
- Mexican national in ICE custody passes away - ICE
- Honduran national in ICE custody passes away at Miami-area hospital - ICE
- Haitian woman dies in ICE detention in Florida - NPR
- ‘Ticking time bomb’: Ice detainee dies in transit as experts say more deaths likely - The Guardian
- Deaths at Adult Detention Centers - AILA
