By Felicia J. Persaud
News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Sat. April 18, 2026: News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. April 17, 2026: A 27-year-old Caribbean immigrant has become the latest in more than 14immigrants to die while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, (ICE), custody this year.
Aled Damien Carbonell-Betancourt of Cuba was found unresponsive in his cell at the Federal Detention Center in Miami on April 12th at approximately 6:30 a.m., US ICE said in a statement. Officials described his death as an apparent suicide attempt.
ICE said detention center staff immediately initiated emergency response measures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while Miami Fire Rescue was called to the scene. Despite continued life-saving efforts, Carbonell-Betancourt was pronounced dead at approximately 7:31 a.m.
Authorities said the death is considered a presumed suicide, though the official cause remains under investigation.
Carbonell-Betancourt had entered the United States on Oct. 30, 2024, and was later encountered by U.S. immigration officials. He was taken into ICE custody in February 2026 following a prior arrest and was being held pending immigration removal proceedings.
In accordance with agency policy, ICE notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. The Cuban Embassy and the individual’s next of kin were also informed.
NUMEROUS DEATHS
The death comes amid a rising number of fatalities involving undocumented immigrants in ICE custody across the United States in 2026. At least 14 deaths have been reported in the first three months of the year, according to compiled data, prompting increased scrutiny of detention conditions, medical care, and oversight.
Recent cases include immigrants from multiple countries who died in detention facilities or shortly after being taken into custody, with some reportedly experiencing medical issues prior to their deaths. Recent fatalities across multiple states have intensified scrutiny of the immigration detention system, with advocates and families calling for greater transparency and accountability. Among the latest cases is Mexican immigrant Alejandro Cabrera Clemente, 49, who died April 11 after being found unresponsive at the Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana. Staff initiated emergency response efforts and transported him to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Cabrera, who had lived in the United States for over two decades, was in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.Home / News / Immigration / Caribbean Diaspora / ICE Custody Deaths Rise in 2026, Raising Concerns Over Care
In another case, Tuan Van Bui, 55, died April 1 at a detention facility in Indiana after being discovered unresponsive. Authorities said emergency measures were immediately taken, but he was pronounced dead at the facility. The cause of death remains under investigation.
Additional deaths in March have further raised concerns. Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano died March 25 in California after being found unresponsive in his bunk, while 19-year-old Royer Perez-Jimenez died March 16 in Florida. Officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding both cases.
Another case drawing attention is that of Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, an immigrant from Afghanistan, who died in Texas one day after entering ICE custody after reporting chest pain and breathing issues.
Advocacy groups have raised ongoing concerns about access to adequate healthcare, mental health support, and emergency response capabilities within detention centers.
ICE has maintained that individuals in its custody are held in safe, secure, and humane environments and that comprehensive medical care is provided throughout detention, including emergency services. The agency also states that all in-custody deaths are subject to mandatory reporting and review.
However, the increasing number of deaths is fueling renewed calls for greater transparency, independent oversight, and potential reforms to the U.S. immigration detention system.
For Caribbean and broader immigrant communities, the latest case underscores continuing concerns about safety and accountability for those held in federal immigration custody.
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