SEATTLE, CMC – The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says a Trinidad and Tobago national in its custody died on March 7 at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Seattle, Washington.
ICE said that Charles Leo Daniel, 61, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, was first encountered by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Seattle on July 29, 2015, at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, Washington, where he was incarcerated following a murder conviction by the King County Superior Court October 29, 2003.
ICE said he had received a sentence of 220 months in prison and 24 to 48 months of community custody and that ERO took custody of him on March 31, 2020.
ICE said an immigration judge ordered him removed from the United States to his home country on December 14, 2020.
It said Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with the Tacoma Fire Department in Washington declared Daniel deceased at 11:35 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on March 7.
ICE said EMS reported the preliminary cause of death as unknown.
Consistent with protocols, ICE said the appropriate components were notified about the death, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility.
ICE said ERO Seattle also notified the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Washington, D.C.
ICE said it “remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments.
“Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay,” it said, stating that all people in its custody receive medical, dental, and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a complete health assessment within 14 days of entering custody or arrival at a facility, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care.
“At no time during detention is a detained noncitizen denied emergent care,” ICE stressed.
Upon an official report of a detained noncitizen death, ICE said ERO makes official notifications to, among others, the U.S. Congress and nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media and posts a news release with relevant details on the public website within two business days per agency policy.
Additionally, ICE said Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Bill (2018) require ICE to make public all reports regarding an in-custody death within 90 days.