Cuban national dies in ICE custody at Georgia detention center

A 33-year-old Cuban national, identified as Denny Adan Gonzalez, died on April 28 while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. Authorities say the suspected cause of death is suicide, though the official cause remains under investigation.

According to ICE, Gonzalez was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 10:25 p.m. by staff employed by CoreCivic, which operates the facility. Emergency procedures were immediately initiated, including CPR, before Webster County Emergency Medical Services arrived and continued resuscitation efforts. Gonzalez was pronounced dead at 11:11 p.m.

ICE said it notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility following the incident. The Embassy of Cuba was also informed, along with Gonzalez’s next of kin, in accordance with established protocols.

Gonzalez first entered the United States near Hidalgo, Texas, in May 2019, where he was apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and deemed inadmissible. After undergoing a credible fear screening by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, he was issued a Notice to Appear and ordered removed to Cuba by an immigration judge in December 2019. He was deported in January 2020.

Authorities said Gonzalez later re-entered the United States unlawfully and was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas, in April 2022. He was subsequently released under an order of supervision and reported regularly to ICE in Charlotte, North Carolina, until September 2025.

On December 12, 2025, Gonzalez was arrested by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office in Charlotte on charges of assault on a female and domestic violence. ICE lodged a detainer, and he was transferred to the Stewart Detention Center in January 2026, where officials said he was undergoing immigration proceedings.

ICE stated that individuals in its custody receive medical, dental, and mental health screenings within 12 hours of arrival, followed by a full health assessment within 14 days, as well as access to ongoing care and 24-hour emergency services.

Under federal requirements outlined in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018, ICE must report all in-custody deaths to Congress and make details publicly available within 90 days. The agency said such notifications have been initiated and that further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.

ICE maintains that it is committed to ensuring safe, secure, and humane conditions for all individuals in its custody.

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