A Cuban national, aged 75, has died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in South Florida, as confirmed by officials. Identified as Isidro Perez, the individual was pronounced dead last Thursday at HCA Kendall Florida Hospital. The exact cause of his death remains under investigation, according to a statement released by ICE and reported by CBS News Miami.
Perez, who had been paroled into the U.S. on April 1, 1966, had faced legal issues in the past, with convictions for possession of a controlled substance in February 1981, and again in January 1984, in the United States Court for the Southern District of Florida. On June 5, he was subject to a law enforcement operation in Key Largo, which resulted in his arrest due to his inadmissibility pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, and was subsequently transferred to the Krome Service Processing Center in west Miami-Dade, as documented by WSVN.
During his time at the processing center, Perez faced health issues and was diagnosed with multiple medical conditions. His unstable condition warranted hospitalization on June 17 at Larkin Community Hospital due to cardiac concerns. ICE reports indicated that Perez was discharged last Wednesday and returned to the custody facility, WSVN further stated.
The following evening, Perez alerted the medical staff at Krome Service Processing Center about his chest pains. "Miami Dade Rescue arrived at KSPC and initiated life-sustaining interventions to include Automated External Defibrillator shock and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and he responded to revival methods. He was transported to Kendall Florida Hospital for further evaluation and treatment, but was pronounced deceased at 8:42 p.m. by medical staff," ICE disclosed in a public statement, as reported by CBS News Miami.
In accordance to ICE's protocols, the death of Perez triggered notifications to the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. Cuban consulate officials were also informed via telephone about Perez's death. The agency is mandated to make all reports concerning in-custody deaths public within the 90-day timeframe following the incident, which aligns with Department of Homeland Security policy.
