An eighth illegal immigrant has died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in fiscal year 2016, tying the record for the most deaths in a year with about three months left before FY 2017.
Seven ICE detainees died in FY 2015, three in 2014 and seven in 2013. This year is already tied for FY 2008, which saw a total of eight deaths.
Luis Alonso Fino Martinez, a Honduran national, died Monday at University Hospital in Newark, N.J., according to an ICE press release issued Tuesday.
The 54-year-old had been taken into ICE custody Sunday after completing a prison sentence for felony convictions of weapons possession and attempted murder.
The press release said Martinez had been transported from the Essex County Detention Facility directly to the hospital before entering ICE custody. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital, indicating an incident may have occurred before he left prison.
Officials have not shared the cause of his death, and said officials will conduct an an autopsy in the coming days.
ICE has contacted Honduran consular officials to notify his family of his death.
