ICE Detainee Collapses, Later Dies in Custody

A Mexican national who was hospitalized hours after coming into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody last week was taken off life support the night of Monday, June 4, at a San Bernardino hospital following his parents' arrival from Mexico.

Juan Pablo Flores-Segura was rushed to Saint Bernardine Hospital May 29 after collapsing at ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) processing facility in San Bernardino. Physicians at the hospital determined the 31-year-old had suffered a brain hemorrhage. Doctors declared Flores brain dead May 31, but he was kept on life support until his parents could be paroled into the United States from Mexico to see him and meet with physicians.

Flores was turned over to ICE following his release from the San Bernardino County Jail where he had been detained since his arrest May 22 by the Victorville Police Department on battery charges. Less than four hours after the custody transfer, Flores was in a holding area at the ICE office waiting to be processed by ERO officers when he lost consciousness. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

An autopsy has been scheduled to confirm the cause of death. Consistent with ICE protocol, the appropriate state health and local law enforcement agencies have been informed. The ERO Los Angeles field office has been in close contact with Mexican consular representatives regarding the case.

Flores is the eighth detainee to pass away in ICE custody in fiscal year 2012.