MIAMI COUNTY, IN — This from fox59.com: The U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement has called any claims that detainees are being kept in insufficient conditions at Miami Correctional Facility “false” after a second ICE detainee died while in custody earlier this month.
The statement arrived amid criticism directed at ICE officials after 55-year-old Tuan Van Bui of Vietnam died on Wednesday, April 1.
This marked the second instance where an ICE detainee died while being held at the Miami Correctional Facility. In February, the Miami Correctional Facility came under fire after 59-year-old Lorth Sim died while in the custody of ICE at the facility. He was from Cambodia.
An ICE spokesperson said in a statement shared with FOX59/CBS4 that all detainees have regular access to medication while adding that “any claim that there are subprime conditions at the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, Indiana, is false.”
“ICE has maintained its high-quality care, including medical, mental and dental care for illegal aliens. This is the best healthcare many aliens have received in their entire lives,” the spokesperson said.
However, the ICE spokesperson noted that an active investigation is underway amid allegations that detainees have experienced difficulty in communicating medical emergencies to staff.
“Detainees have not been locked down and are free to approach staff to express any questions or concerns,” the spokesperson said. “Detainees have immediately notified staff during medical emergencies, who have in turn responded immediately.”
“ICE is committed to transparency and accountability and regularly conducts inspections to ensure the well-being of individuals in its care. In fact, ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens,” the statement continued. “It is a longstanding practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody. This includes medical, dental and mental health services as available, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care.”
Three days after Bui’s death, detectives with Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division also began investigating on April 4 the circumstances surrounding the death of inmate Shawn Booker. He was 50 years old.
The Miami County Coroner’s Office and Miami Correctional Facility investigators are assisting. An autopsy will be performed on a later date to uncover the exact cause of death.
Indiana Congressman André Carson appeared alongside dozens of protestors at Miami Correctional Facility earlier this week to draw attention to the deaths of the two ICE detainees.
In August, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said IDOC would collaborate with ICE to make as many as 1,000 beds available at the facility.
ICE has also turned its attention toward Carmel, where it was reported the federal agency is looking to lease a four-story office space located at Penn on Parkway, which is an office park near Interstate 465 and U.S. Highway 31.
In December, the Miami Correctional Facility came under fire after two inmates died, with just over a week passing between the deaths. In March, nine inmates were charged in connection with the death of one of those inmates, identified as J Trinidad Ramirez.
