Juan Alexis Tineo-Martinez, a 44-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic, passed away at Centro Medico Hospital in San Juan on February 23. He was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a maritime interdiction on February 21. The incident involved suspected narcotics and human smuggling activities.
Tineo-Martinez was detained along with three other Dominican nationals and one Colombian after ICE responded to an alert from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air Marine Operations regarding a suspicious vessel on February 20. His cause of death is currently pending an autopsy by the Puerto Rico Forensic Science Institute.
After Tineo-Martinez reported experiencing leg pain, ICE agents contacted local emergency services, leading to his immediate transfer to Centro Medico Hospital for evaluation. Unfortunately, he did not respond to treatment.
ICE has notified relevant authorities about the death, including the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in San Juan. His next of kin have also been informed.
According to agency policy, upon reporting a detainee's death, ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organizations, stakeholders, and media outlets within two business days. These details are available on the ICE.gov Newsroom. Furthermore, congressional requirements mandate that all reports concerning in-custody deaths be made public within 90 days as outlined in the 2018 DHS appropriations bill.
ICE emphasizes its commitment to providing safe and humane conditions for those in its custody. Comprehensive medical care is ensured from arrival through their stay, including initial screenings within 12 hours and full health assessments within 14 days.
The smuggling case has been accepted for prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico under drug trafficking and alien smuggling charges.
