Federal immigration officials said Friday that a Mexican national died in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Abel Reyes-Clemente, 54, died Wednesday morning in the Florence Service Processing Center in Florence, Ariz., after ICE medical staff said that Reyes-Clemente exhibited signs of influenza earlier in the week.
Staff found the Mexican national "unresponsive and not breathing" when paramedics tried to revive him. He was transferred to ICE custody from Maricopa County law enforcement officials after serving a sentence for driving under the influence.
According to federal documents on Reyes-Clemente, he had been deported back to Mexico on five occasions, most recently in 2008.
ICE officials are still waiting for final results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
"Consistent with the agency’s protocols, the appropriate state health and local law enforcement agencies have been advised about the death, as have the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. Additionally, ICE has notified the Mexican Consulate of Mr. Reyes’s death," ICE said in the statement released Friday.
"Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment detainees arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All ICE detainees receive medical, dental and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to daily sick call and 24-hour emergency care."
Reyes-Clemente is the fourth person who has died in ICE custody since October, according to the statement.