Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, a 46-year-old citizen of Eritrea, died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on December 14 at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. He was pronounced dead at approximately 3:21 a.m. after experiencing medical distress. The cause of death is under investigation.
Abdulkadir had been held by ICE for 215 days and was awaiting a hearing before the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. According to initial reports, he complained of chest pain while at the facility. Medical staff responded and transported him to the medical department, where they began cardiopulmonary resuscitation and contacted local emergency services. Emergency personnel arrived, continued care, and subsequently pronounced him deceased.
The Pennsylvania State Police and Clearfield County coroner are investigating his death.
Born March 15, 1979, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Abdulkadir became a lawful permanent resident in the United States on April 30, 2018. Records show he did not have a claim to U.S. citizenship.
On April 3, 2024, Abdulkadir was convicted by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio for wire fraud and theft of public money totaling more than $10,000. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
On July 23, 2024, officers from Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Williamsport encountered Abdulkadir through the Criminal Alien Program while he was incarcerated at the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Low Security Correctional Institution Allenwood in White Deer. ERO determined that he was subject to removal under Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and issued an immigration detainer along with a warrant of arrest. Upon his release from federal prison, ERO Williamsport took custody of Abdulkadir and transferred him to Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
Following standard procedure after an in-custody death, "ERO notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Integrity Coordination Center." The agency also stated: "ERO will coordinate appropriate consular notifications in accordance with international and domestic laws and will make efforts to notify Abdulkadir’s next of kin or other designated contact."
ICE issues official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders, and media when there is an official report of an in-custody alien death. The agency posts relevant details on its public website as required by congressional mandates outlined in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018; all reports regarding such deaths must be made public within 90 days.
According to ICE policy statements included in their announcement: "ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments." The agency says it provides comprehensive medical care from arrival through detention; this includes intake screenings within twelve hours upon arrival at each facility, full health assessments within fourteen days, access to appointments for ongoing care needs as well as round-the-clock emergency services: "At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care."
