A Colombian national died after being discovered unresponsive at the Phelps County Jail in Rolla, Missouri, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported. The individual, Brayan Rayo-Garzon, who was in ICE custody, passed away on April 8.
Rayo-Garzon entered the United States without authorization on November 13, 2023, near San Ysidro, California. An immigration judge ordered his removal to Colombia on June 12, 2024. Prior to his latest arrest by ICE on March 25, he had been apprehended twice, initially for shoplifting in 2024, and more recently for credit card fraud.
Following the protocols, ICE informed the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, and next of kin regarding Rayo-Garzon's death. Official notifications were also conveyed to Congress, NGO stakeholders, and the media. The agency additionally released a statement on their website with related details, adhering to a policy that requires public reporting of detainee deaths within 90 days, as mandated by the 2018 DHS Appropriations Bill.
ICE reiterated its commitment to maintaining safe, secure, and humane conditions for detainees. The agency stated, "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, access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care."
