Another immigrant has died while in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), this time at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico, California. Authorities identified the man as Huabing Xie, an immigrant from China who reportedly suffered a seizure on Friday afternoon. According to ICE, staff at the detention center performed CPR and used a defibrillator in an attempt to save him, but Xie was later pronounced dead at El Centro Regional Medical Center.
ICE stated that Xie had been detained since September after federal agents arrested him in Indio, alleging he was in the country without legal status. This detention, like many others, raises questions about the systemic practice of incarcerating immigrants, often without adequate review or consideration of individual circumstances. The agency announced that an internal investigation is underway, but has not provided further details about the cause of death or Xie’s medical condition prior to the incident.
This marks the second death in ICE custody in California within two weeks. On September 21, 39-year-old Ismael Ayala-Uribe died at a detention facility in Adelanto after reportedly having a cough and a fever. These repeated deaths reflect a disturbing pattern of inhumane conditions and inadequate medical care, highlighting systemic issues within the detention systems rather than isolated incidents. The recent deaths come amid increased concerns about medical care, oversight, and transparency at immigration detention centers across the state and nation.
Advocates and community organizations have called for greater accountability and independent investigations into conditions within ICE-run and privately operated facilities. Reports from previous years have highlighted issues such as delayed medical attention, staff shortages, and limited access for outside monitors or advocacy groups. Taken together, these reports suggest a systemic failure to uphold the basic rights of detainees, creating a cycle of wrongful detentions compounded by neglect and unsafe conditions. These ongoing concerns have renewed questions about whether proper medical oversight and emergency procedures are being followed.
“Every person in custody, regardless of immigration status, has the right to receive proper medical care and humane treatment,” said Kimberly Hutchison, attorney of Singleton Schreiber. “When detention facilities fail in that duty, the people who suffer the consequences deserve answers and accountability.”
Accountability and Legal Avenues for Families
When a death occurs in government custody, several parties may be subject to scrutiny, including federal agencies such as ICE, private contractors that manage detention facilities, and medical providers responsible for detainee care. These deaths also raise broader concerns about systemic abuse, including the widespread practice of detaining individuals without adequate legal justification or protection. In situations where negligence, inadequate medical treatment, or failure to follow safety protocols contributed to a detainee’s death, surviving family members may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Potential legal claims could include:
- Negligence: if detention staff, guards, or facility administrators failed to follow safety protocols, respond to medical emergencies, or provide basic care and supervision.
- Medical negligence: if doctors, nurses, or contracted healthcare providers delayed or denied necessary treatment, or provided substandard medical care that caused harm or death
- Civil rights violations: if conditions, confinement, or lack of oversight led to inhumane treatment.
- Contractor liability: if a private company operating the detention center failed to meet the required standards of care.
Families pursuing such claims may seek compensation for:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of financial support or companionship
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Physical pain and lasting health complications resulting from inadequate medical care
In many cases, the physical and emotional trauma suffered by detainees, especially those who survive with long-term injuries or chronic pain, can be profound and life-altering. These damages deserve full recognition and accountability.
While the investigation into Xie’s death continues, his case underscores a recurring pattern of systemic abuse and negligence in the nation’s immigration detention system. These tragedies are not isolated, but reflect broader issues of wrongful detentions, inhumane conditions, and a failure to provide essential medical care to vulnerable populations. Each loss raises difficult but necessary questions about the government’s duty to safeguard the people in its custody and the steps that must be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
If your loved one has suffered or died in immigration custody, you may have legal options. Contact Singleton Schreiber for a free, confidential case review to explore your rights and pursue accountability.
