Immigrant Inmate Dies at ICE Prison in Michigan Pushing Number of Deaths in Custody This Year to 30

A 56-year-old Bulgarian national has died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at a detention facility in Michigan, bringing the number of deaths in ICE detention this year to at least 30, according to members of Congress.

Nenko Stanev Gantchev died on Dec. 15 at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan, a facility operated by the private prison company Geo Group, ICE said in a statement.

The agency said Gantchev was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell during routine checks and that facility medical staff initiated CPR and contacted local emergency services. He was pronounced dead at approximately 9:54 p.m. His death is suspected to be from natural causes, though ICE said the official cause remains under investigation.

ICE said it has notified the Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, and that the Bulgarian consulate and Gantchev's next of kin were informed in accordance with policy.

Gantchev entered the United States in 1995 on a J-1 exchange visitor visa and was later granted lawful permanent resident status in 2005. That status was revoked in 2009 following criminal arrests in Illinois, including theft, assault and battery, and driving under the influence, according to ICE.

An immigration judge ordered his removal to Bulgaria in January 2023. He was detained by ICE in September 2025 while removal proceedings were pending, and a bond appeal filed in October remained under review at the time of his death.

In a joint statement, U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Delia Ramirez of Illinois called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Gantchev's death. "While ICE claims he died of natural causes, the circumstances surrounding his death are not yet clear," the lawmakers said, citing reports from other detainees that Gantchev had requested medical assistance prior to his death.

"To date, we are aware of at least 30 deaths at ICE detention centers this year, making 2025 the deadliest year for immigrants in ICE custody," the Congresswomen added, saying they would continue oversight efforts to hold ICE accountable.

ICE said it maintains a policy of providing medical, dental, and mental health screenings within hours of intake and access to 24-hour emergency care, adding that "at no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care."