Family Claims Man Complained of Neglect Before Dying in ICE Custody
A Costa Rican man is the third detainee to die at a Louisiana ICE facility in less than six months, with his family alleging inadequate care for his diabetes.
A 36-year-old Costa Rican man, Carlos Josue Marchena Marchena, died on September 18 at the Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, Louisiana, marking the third death of a detainee at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in under six months. His family, girlfriend, and a fellow detainee allege that Marchena Marchena complained of missed insulin shots, meals, and inadequate water intake to manage his type 1 diabetes as he was transferred between facilities in multiple states.
According to his family, his condition deteriorated after arriving at Winn, and he died less than a week later. ICE stated that Marchena Marchena received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals. The official cause of death is pending further medical examination.
A recent inspection by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General found that the Winn correctional center had fallen short of federal standards, including those related to medical care. The report, issued in June, noted violations in medical care, food service, and use of force. It also found that medical staff failed to maintain updated treatment documents and laboratory testing records, which could negatively impact detainee health and safety. ICE acknowledged these findings and agreed to implement nine recommendations for improvement.
Dr. Rajesh Garg, who heads the diabetes unit at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, emphasized the critical need for regular food, water, and insulin for individuals with type 1 diabetes to maintain stable blood sugar levels and avoid life-threatening complications. Stress, he added, necessitates even more attentive care.
Scott Sutterfield, a spokesperson for LaSalle Corrections, the contractor managing the facility with the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office, stated that the death is under review. The Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Diabetes has been identified as a contributing factor in at least six ICE detainee deaths during the current presidential term. Detainees with diabetes have frequently reported inconsistent access to insulin and other necessary medications in court filings. Marchena Marchena's sister, Franciny Marchena, expressed concern that her brother’s blood sugar levels were not being monitored. His girlfriend, Ana Leon Castro, reported that he called her hours before his death complaining that prescribed pills were not helping his symptoms, which included chest pain, vomiting, headaches, and stomach pain.
Marchena Marchena entered the U.S. without legal status in February 2021. ICE stated he had prior misdemeanor convictions and was arrested in January for assault. An immigration judge ordered him to be deported in July. His sister mentioned that his request for bail and voluntary deportation was denied, though ICE did not comment on this specific request.