Chinese National Dies While in ICE Custody in Imperial County
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. — A Chinese national identified as 47-year-old Huabing Xie died on September 29 at El Centro Regional Medical Center after reportedly experiencing a medical emergency while in federal custody, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Xie, who officials said entered the United States illegally, was being held at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico at the time of the incident. According to ICE, detention staff observed Xie experiencing what appeared to be a seizure at approximately 2:13 p.m. Medical personnel at the facility immediately began CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) before emergency responders arrived. Despite continued life-saving efforts, Xie was pronounced dead at 3:15 p.m. at El Centro Regional Medical Center in Imperial County.
ICE records show that U.S. Border Patrol first arrested Xie near Tecate, California, on December 31, 2023. He was served a notice to appear before the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review and released on an order of recognizance the same day. He was arrested again on September 12, 2024, in Indio, and transferred to ICE custody the following day.
Local activists say the news of the detainee’s death has left them emotional, though not surprised.
“I felt a lot of anger, I felt pain… I felt hurt for his family… for him… most of all anger because of the authorities that allowed this to happen,” said Daniella Flores, co-founder of Imperial Valley Equity and Justice, in an interview with KYMA.
An activist with Imperial Liberation Collab said she has seen conditions inside the Calexico facility firsthand.
“We were able to do a tour back in the beginning of the year February or March, I don’t remember… we were able to go into the medical facility and all the units… well not all the units but at least some… we were able to see that yeah, it looks like nice areas, but I think that there is a lack of staff,” said Marina Arteaga, with Imperial Liberation Collab.
Flores added that she has spoken directly with detainees who claim their medical concerns are not always addressed.
“We have heard that pain goes untreated… essentially they are not allowed to see additional specialists when cases are more severe, and that was personally said to me by multiple people, not just one,” said Flores.
Following Xie’s death, ICE stated that it notified the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Chinese consulate, as required by agency policy.
The agency added that official notifications were also made to Congress, nongovernmental stakeholders, and the media, and that a public report on the incident will be posted to ICE.gov within two business days. Additional details are expected to be released within 90 days in accordance with federal reporting requirements outlined in the DHS Appropriations Bill of 2018.
ICE said it remains committed to providing “safe, secure, and humane environments” for individuals in its custody, adding that all detainees receive medical, dental, and mental health screenings within 12 hours of arrival and have access to 24-hour emergency care.
According to data published on ICE.gov, 16 detainees have died while in ICE custody so far this year.
At this time, the official cause of Xie’s death has not been released.