Venezuelan man's sister demands investigation into ICE custody death

Sonimar Arenas is calling for justice and a thorough investigation into the death of her brother, Jesús Manuel, who passed away while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Jesús Manuel died on July 13 while being transported between detention centers in southern Georgia.

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I begged ICE not to take him because of his medical condition, but this was not heard. They also ignored my request to allow him to take all his medications and only let him take one of the four he needed.

Arenas stated at a press conference in Washington, alongside Democratic members of Congress and activists, that her brother's death could have been prevented if ICE agents had allowed him to take his essential medications. She pleaded with them not to detain him due to his medical condition, highlighting that he suffered from hypertension, chronic anxiety, and depression.

According to ICE, Jesús Manuel was arrested on July 9 pursuant to a deportation order. Arenas reported that her brother called her on the same day, distressed that he was only allowed to bring one of his four necessary medications. She is convinced he did not receive the required medical attention.

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We demand justice for his memory and an investigation to clarify the real causes of his death. I am totally sure that he did not receive the medical attention he required.

ICE reported that on the morning of July 13, Jesús Manuel was found unconscious during a transfer from the Irwin detention center to another facility. Resuscitation efforts were made, and he was transported to a county hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later due to apparent cardiac arrest. Arenas, however, demands a full investigation to clarify the real causes of his death.

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He was pronounced dead at a county hospital an hour later due to apparent cardiac arrest.