ICE detainee dies at Miami hospital — Florida’s second migrant death since pandemic outbreak
A 51-year-old immigration detainee died at a Miami area hospital Wednesday — Florida’s second reported detainee death since the pandemic outbreak.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed the death of Kuan Hui Lee late Thursday night, noting that Lee had a “diagnosis of a massive intracranial hemorrhage.” The agency did not clarify whether the detainee had been tested for COVID-19.
“Medical staff at Krome Service Processing Center contacted 9-1-1 Emergency Services after finding Lee unresponsive July 31,” ICE said in a statement Thursday night. “Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the 9-1-1 call and transported Lee to Kendall Regional Medical Center where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for further evaluation and treatment. He remained at Kendall Regional Medical Center since that date.”
According to ICE, Lee— a visa overstay— was taken into custody in late January by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
According to immigration sources with knowledge of the death, prior to being taken to Kendall Regional, Lee was receiving treatment at the medical housing unit inside the Krome detention center in West Miami-Dade because he was having trouble breathing.
Last month, a 51-year-old Mexican national also died in ICE custody. The Glades County detainee — identified as Onoval Perez-Montufa — died at a Palm Beach County hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus. Perez-Montufa’s death was Florida’s first reported COVID-19 death of a detainee.
As of Thursday, Glades has reported 149 COVID-19 cases, while the Krome Processing Center in Miami-Dade has reported 132 and the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach has tallied 66, ICE data shows.
