French citizen dies in custody of US immigration agents

HOUSTON: A French citizen and native of Angola has died in the custody of US immigration agents, they said on Wednesday, the latest in a number of deaths during a US crackdown on illegal immigrants.

According to a statement shared by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the individual, whose identity has yet to be released as officials work to identify next of kin, was a 40-year-old native of Angola.

They said the person died on Sunday at a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death,” ICE said, adding that French consular officials have been notified and “are attempting to locate the next of kin.”

Reached by AFP, a French embassy spokeswoman said she could not elaborate “at this stage,” beyond what is in the ICE statement

The death follows that of Nebane Abienwi, 37, of Cameroon, who ICE said died in its custody in San Diego, California in October after a brain hemorrhage.

Later that month a Cuban, Roylan Hernandez-Diaz, 53, died of an apparent suicide while in ICE custody in Louisiana, the agency said.

Between December 2018 and May 2019, five children from Guatemala died in detention after their apprehension by US border officers.