Taiwanese man in ICE custody passes away in Florida

MIAMI – A 51-year-old unlawfully present Republic of China (Taiwan) national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Krome Service Processing Center in Florida died Wednesday afternoon at the Kendall Regional Medical Center.

Kuan Hui Lee, 51, was pronounced dead at 1:36 p.m. local time by hospital medical staff at the Kendall Regional Medical Center, where he had been in critical condition with a diagnosis of a massive intercranial hemorrhage. 

Medical staff at Krome Service Processing Center contacted 9-1-1 Emergency Services after finding Lee unresponsive July 31. 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. 

Lee initially entered ICE custody Jan. 24, after his arrest by U.S. Border Patrol Jan. 23. Lee, who legally entered the U.S. in 2004, significantly violated the terms of his admission and overstayed his temporary visa status.

ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive, agency-wide review of this incident, as it does in all such cases. Fatalities in ICE custody, statistically, are exceedingly rare and occur at a fraction of the national average for the U.S. detained population.

Consistent with the agency’s protocols, the appropriate agencies have been notified about the death, including the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Additionally, ICE has notified the Taiwan consulate.

The agency’s review will be conducted by ICE senior leadership, including Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA).

ICE’s Health Service Corps (IHSC) ensures the provision of necessary medical care services as required by ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards and based on the medical needs of the detainee. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment detainees arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All ICE detainees receive medical, dental and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to daily sick call and 24-hour emergency care. Pursuant to our commitment to the welfare of those in the agency’s custody, ICE annually spends more than $269 million on the spectrum of healthcare services provided to detainees.