ICE detainee passes away in south Texas hospital

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A Honduran national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) since March 16 passed away on April 23 at Valley Regional Medical Center (VRMC).

Carlos Funez-Ochoa, 30, was apprehended March 15, 2015, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol near Hidalgo, Texas. The next day, he was transferred to ICE custody and taken to the Port Isabel Detention Center in Port Isabel, Texas.

On the morning of April 23, Funez-Ochoa collapsed in the detention center’s medical unit, where he was temporarily being housed. Due to being found unresponsive after his collapse, ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC) staff performed CPR until an ambulance arrived.  Mr. Funez-Ochoa was rushed to VRMC where he was pronounced deceased at 8:07 a.m. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

ICE notified the Honduran consulate, which notified Funez-Ochoa’s next of kin. Consistent with ICE protocols, the appropriate state health and local law enforcement agencies have also been informed.

Funez-Ochoa is the third detainee to pass away in ICE custody in fiscal year 2015.