A Mexican Citizen Dies in U.S. Immigration Custody in Georgia, Sparking Calls for Transparency and Investigation
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that a 34-year-old Mexican citizen, Heber Sanchez Domínguez, died while in custody at the Robert A. Deyton Detention Center in Clayton County, Georgia. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when Sanchez was found "hanging by the neck and unresponsive" in his sleeping quarters.
Sanchez had been transferred to ICE custody six days prior, following an arrest for driving without a license. At the time, medical staff reported no signs of distress during an intake evaluation. The cause of death is currently under investigation.
The Mexican consulate in Atlanta has expressed concern over Sanchez's death, stating that it is "closely monitoring" the situation and requesting clarification on the circumstances surrounding his death. In a statement, the consulate said it was collaborating with ICE to ensure a transparent and prompt investigation into the incident.
Sanchez's death marks the third reported death of an ICE detainee this year, following at least four deaths since 2025, according to agency data. The number of people facing deportation held by ICE has also surpassed 70,000 for the first time in its 23-year history.
As ICE faces intense public scrutiny following a fatal shooting incident on January 7, concerns over the treatment and conditions of detainees are growing. Advocates are calling for greater transparency and accountability from the agency.
The investigation into Sanchez's death is ongoing, with DHS promising to provide more information as it becomes available. The Mexican government has expressed its intention to return Sanchez's remains to Mexico as soon as possible.
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that a 34-year-old Mexican citizen, Heber Sanchez Domínguez, died while in custody at the Robert A. Deyton Detention Center in Clayton County, Georgia. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when Sanchez was found "hanging by the neck and unresponsive" in his sleeping quarters.
Sanchez had been transferred to ICE custody six days prior, following an arrest for driving without a license. At the time, medical staff reported no signs of distress during an intake evaluation. The cause of death is currently under investigation.
The Mexican consulate in Atlanta has expressed concern over Sanchez's death, stating that it is "closely monitoring" the situation and requesting clarification on the circumstances surrounding his death. In a statement, the consulate said it was collaborating with ICE to ensure a transparent and prompt investigation into the incident.
Sanchez's death marks the third reported death of an ICE detainee this year, following at least four deaths since 2025, according to agency data. The number of people facing deportation held by ICE has also surpassed 70,000 for the first time in its 23-year history.
As ICE faces intense public scrutiny following a fatal shooting incident on January 7, concerns over the treatment and conditions of detainees are growing. Advocates are calling for greater transparency and accountability from the agency.
The investigation into Sanchez's death is ongoing, with DHS promising to provide more information as it becomes available. The Mexican government has expressed its intention to return Sanchez's remains to Mexico as soon as possible.
what's goin on with these detention centers? seems like they're more worried bout deportin people than keepin them alive 
how many more lives gotta be lost before we take action? 
and btw, 70k+ ppl held by ICE is just insane 
this is just so sad Heber was like only 34 and had his whole life ahead of him 
. And I feel for the Mexican consulate, they're just trying to do their job and ensure Heber gets a proper burial back home 
. We need more transparency and accountability from these guys, it's just common sense 
. Have you seen those numbers of people facing deportation? 70k is like whoa 
.
this is super unsettling, another person loses their life in detention and no one knows much about what happened before they ended up hanging from a ceiling... how many more have we lost since 2025? it's getting out of hand 
i'm not saying ice is the bad guy but this just feels so fishy 
It's not just about transparency, it's about basic human dignity for these folks who are being held against their will. What kind of system allows someone to die from a hanging without any warning signs? 
The numbers don't lie - 4+ deaths since 2025 is alarming, and the conditions in these detention centers need to be seriously re-examined 
We need more than just promises of investigation; we need concrete actions to address the systemic issues that are putting lives at risk.
ICE says they're investigatein', but what if it was just another accident? 
or maybe someone did somethin' wrong... anyway, the Mexican consulate is all over it, demandin' transparency, which is good, cuz we need to know what's goin on in those places. 70k+ people stuck in detention centers, that's crazy