Trinidad and Tobago national in ICE custody dies at NWIPC

SEATTLE — A Trinidad and Tobago national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) passed away at the Northwest ICE Processing Center March 7.

Charles Leo Daniel, 61, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, was first encountered by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Seattle July 29, 2015, at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, Washington, where he was incarcerated following a murder conviction by the King County Superior Court Oct. 29, 2003, receiving a sentence of 220 months prison and 24 to 48 months of community custody. ERO took custody of Daniel March 31, 2020. He was ordered removed from the United States to his home country by an immigration judge Dec. 14, 2020.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with the Tacoma Fire Department declared Daniel deceased at 11:35 a.m. PST. EMS reported the preliminary cause of death as unknown.

Consistent with ICE protocols, the appropriate components were notified about the death, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. Additionally, ERO Seattle notified the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Washington, D.C.

ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody 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 medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained noncitizen denied emergent care.

Upon an official report of a detained noncitizen death, ERO makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders, and the media and posts a news release with relevant details on the public website within two business days, per agency policy. This information may be accessed in the ICE.gov Newsroom.

Additionally, Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Bill (2018) require ICE to make public all reports regarding an in-custody death within 90 days. These reports may be accessed on the Detainee Death Reporting page.