Michigan Immigration Detention Center Death Sparks Calls for Answers
A 56-year-old Bulgarian immigrant died this week at the North Lake Processing Center in northern Michigan, reigniting concerns about transparency and conditions inside one of the country's largest immigration detention centers. The death has raised questions about how such facilities are monitored and whether the Trump administration's record of deaths in ICE custody is on the rise.
The facility, operated by the private prison company GEO Group, reopened in June as an immigration detention center after years of operating as a private prison. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib visited the North Lake facility last month after receiving complaints from families and advocates about conditions inside the center. She had heard rumors of a tuberculosis outbreak and possible deaths but had not received confirmation from ICE at the time.
"I was told there were people who had been detained with TB, and they'd been isolated," Tlaib said in an interview with Metro Times. "I want to know if that's true, because I believe we have a responsibility to make sure that people are treated humanely."
ICE officials have said that the official cause of death remains under investigation but is suspected to be from natural causes. However, local health officials say their role is limited and that ICE is only required to notify them of certain conditions.
"We know they tested some people for TB, and they isolated them during testing," said Kevin Hughes, a health officer for District Health Department #10. "No one said there was an outbreak."
The North Lake Processing Center has been the subject of controversy since its reopening, with civil rights groups warning about the threat it poses to Michigan's immigrant community. The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) has raised concerns about medical neglect, access to attorneys, and due process.
"It's a major threat to our immigrant friends and neighbors throughout Michigan and the Midwest," said ACLU Executive Director Loren Khogali. "We've seen that detention centers can be breeding grounds for diseases like TB."
ICE officials have declined to respond to questions from Metro Times, including whether there have been any other deaths at the facility or whether any communicable disease outbreaks have occurred.
The death of Bulgarian immigrant Nenko Stanev Gantchev has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in immigration detention facilities. As Congress continues to scrutinize conditions inside such facilities, advocates are pushing for greater oversight and more humane treatment of detainees.
"We're going to hold them accountable," Tlaib said in a video accompanying her visit. "We're going to make sure the conditions are safe, and that everyone's rights are protected."
But critics say that ICE is stonewalling, and that the department's response to oversight efforts is predictable. The Department of Homeland Security released a statement attacking lawmakers who conduct oversight of detention facilities, including Tlaib.
"We never talk about the monsters that are detained," said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "When radical members of Congress like Rashida Tlaib visit ICE facilities, they spread FALSE allegations and blame criticism of ICE for an increase in assaults on officers."
But local health officials say their role is limited, and that ICE is only required to notify them of certain conditions. The incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in immigration detention facilities.
As Congress continues to debate the merits of private prison companies like GEO Group, advocates are pushing for more humane treatment of detainees and greater oversight of conditions inside such facilities.
A 56-year-old Bulgarian immigrant died this week at the North Lake Processing Center in northern Michigan, reigniting concerns about transparency and conditions inside one of the country's largest immigration detention centers. The death has raised questions about how such facilities are monitored and whether the Trump administration's record of deaths in ICE custody is on the rise.
The facility, operated by the private prison company GEO Group, reopened in June as an immigration detention center after years of operating as a private prison. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib visited the North Lake facility last month after receiving complaints from families and advocates about conditions inside the center. She had heard rumors of a tuberculosis outbreak and possible deaths but had not received confirmation from ICE at the time.
"I was told there were people who had been detained with TB, and they'd been isolated," Tlaib said in an interview with Metro Times. "I want to know if that's true, because I believe we have a responsibility to make sure that people are treated humanely."
ICE officials have said that the official cause of death remains under investigation but is suspected to be from natural causes. However, local health officials say their role is limited and that ICE is only required to notify them of certain conditions.
"We know they tested some people for TB, and they isolated them during testing," said Kevin Hughes, a health officer for District Health Department #10. "No one said there was an outbreak."
The North Lake Processing Center has been the subject of controversy since its reopening, with civil rights groups warning about the threat it poses to Michigan's immigrant community. The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) has raised concerns about medical neglect, access to attorneys, and due process.
"It's a major threat to our immigrant friends and neighbors throughout Michigan and the Midwest," said ACLU Executive Director Loren Khogali. "We've seen that detention centers can be breeding grounds for diseases like TB."
ICE officials have declined to respond to questions from Metro Times, including whether there have been any other deaths at the facility or whether any communicable disease outbreaks have occurred.
The death of Bulgarian immigrant Nenko Stanev Gantchev has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in immigration detention facilities. As Congress continues to scrutinize conditions inside such facilities, advocates are pushing for greater oversight and more humane treatment of detainees.
"We're going to hold them accountable," Tlaib said in a video accompanying her visit. "We're going to make sure the conditions are safe, and that everyone's rights are protected."
But critics say that ICE is stonewalling, and that the department's response to oversight efforts is predictable. The Department of Homeland Security released a statement attacking lawmakers who conduct oversight of detention facilities, including Tlaib.
"We never talk about the monsters that are detained," said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "When radical members of Congress like Rashida Tlaib visit ICE facilities, they spread FALSE allegations and blame criticism of ICE for an increase in assaults on officers."
But local health officials say their role is limited, and that ICE is only required to notify them of certain conditions. The incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in immigration detention facilities.
As Congress continues to debate the merits of private prison companies like GEO Group, advocates are pushing for more humane treatment of detainees and greater oversight of conditions inside such facilities.
this is getting outta hand 
why cant they just tell us whats goin on? "natural causes" sounds like a copout to me 
ICE is supposed to be lookin after these ppl, not lettin them rot in isolation 
and what about the whistleblower who came forward with TB concerns? 
dont we deserve some answers here? 
they can't keep hiding behind "natural causes" or saying their role is limited 
it's not like this is the first time we've seen problems at these centers...the American Civil Liberties Union has been warning about medical neglect for years 
Tlaib's visit was a good start, but now it's up to Congress to hold ICE accountable 
another death at one of these detention centers and still no answers 
it's like they're trying to keep stuff under wraps you know? I mean rep Tlaib goes in there thinking she's gonna get the lowdown but ICE is all like "nope not telling you anything" 
and then the department of homeland security comes out swinging at her for trying to do her job it's just wild 
but we gotta know what's really going on in there so we can make sure people aren't being mistreated 
what's up with these detention centers? how can they not be monitored better? i mean a death from natural causes doesn't sound that bad but when you consider it happened in a place where people are being held without trial it just gets weird 
also, what's up with ICE being so secretive about everything? 
it's like they're trying to sweep this under the rug... Tlaib is right on point with her demands for transparency and humane treatment, though... 
can't we just have some basic human decency in these places?! 
. like, how can we trust anyone when there's not even any transparency? 
The fact that a US Rep is actually visiting the facility and demanding answers is already a step forward 
I mean, we can't always control how things go down in these places, but at least there's someone willing to listen 
And let's not forget that local health officials are doing their part by saying they only get notified of certain conditions 
It's all about being aware and pushing for change 
We gotta keep talking about this stuff until we see real progress 
it's not right that a congressman had to visit the place just because people were complaining about it 
and now DHS is trying to attack anyone who dares to speak out against them 
what's next? are we gonna let our government run a private prison company and just ignore all the problems that come with it? 
i mean, a 56-yr-old man dies under questionable circumstances in a detention center & the least we can do is demand answers 
i think what Tlaib did by visiting the center was brave, but more needs to be done to hold these institutions accountable 
what if its not just one case? what if there are more ppl dying or getting sick behind closed doors? that would be catastrophic 