Cuban Man Arrested for Domestic Violence Dies in ICE Custody at Georgia Detention Center

Denny Adan Gonzalez, a 33-year-old Cuban man held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, died on April 28 at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Gonzalez had been arrested in December 2025 for assault on a female and domestic violence in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, before being transferred to ICE custody in January 2026.

CoreCivic staff found Gonzalez unresponsive in his cell around 10:25 p.m. Emergency responders attempted resuscitation, but Gonzalez was pronounced dead at 11:11 p.m. ICE officials suspect suicide as the cause, but the investigation remains open.

Gonzalez's immigration history is marked by repeated attempts to enter the United States. Initially apprehended near Hidalgo, Texas, in May 2019, he was ordered removed to Cuba in late 2019 and deported in January 2020. He unlawfully re-entered the U.S. in April 2022 and was placed under ICE supervision until his arrest for domestic violence.

ICE asserts that detainees receive medical, dental, and mental health screenings within 12 hours of arrival at detention facilities, along with ongoing access to care and emergency services. The agency also emphasizes its compliance with notification protocols, informing the Department of Homeland Security, the Cuban Embassy, and Gonzalez's family.

Yet this latest death adds to a troubling pattern of fatalities and inadequate oversight in ICE detention centers. Stewart Detention Center, operated by CoreCivic, has faced criticism for inhumane conditions and lack of accountability. The official investigation into Gonzalez's death must be transparent and thorough to ensure justice and prevent further loss of life.

This incident underscores the urgent need to reevaluate the use of detention for immigrants, particularly those with mental health needs, and to demand accountability from ICE and its private contractors. We will continue to monitor developments and hold those responsible to account.