Venezuelan detainee dies in ICE custody during transfer in Georgia

ATLANTA - Jesus Manuel Arenas-Silva, a 45-year-old Venezuelan illegal alien, died in ICE custody July 13 while being transferred between detention facilities in Georgia.

Arenas-Silva was found unresponsive at about 7:46 a.m. while enroute by bus from the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla to the Folkston D. Ray ICE Processing Center in Folkston. Staff called for medical assistance and began lifesaving measures. Emergency medical services responded and transported Arenas-Silva to Irwin County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:31 a.m. ET. His suspected cause of death is cardiac arrest. The official cause is pending further medical examination.

Arenas-Silva entered the United States illegally and without inspection on or about Oct. 11, 2021, under the Biden administration, at or near Calexico, California. ICE arrested him July 9 during a targeted enforcement action in Dallas, Georgia, due to an outstanding warrant of removal. Arenas-Silva had previously been determined inadmissible at the San Luis Port of Entry in Arizona on Oct. 2, 2021, and was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol near Calexico, California, on Oct. 11, 2021, after an illegal entry. He was issued a notice to appear on Oct. 12, 2021, and was ordered removed to Venezuela by an immigration judge in Atlanta on April 27, 2026.

While in custody, Arenas-Silva received medical care and was seen by medical professionals.

Consistent with ICE policy, Enforcement and Removal Operations notified the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Joint Intake Operation Center. The Embassy of Venezuela in Washington, D.C., as well as Arenas-Silva's next of kin, were also notified.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon reports of in-custody deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on its public website. Information is available in the ICE Newsroom and on the Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arriving at a facility, access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained noncitizen denied emergency care.