Jaspal Singh, a 57-year-old Indian national awaiting deportation for illegal entry into the United States, has passed away at a hospital in Atlanta, federal authorities revealed on Wednesday.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the unfortunate demise, with notifications sent to the Indian consulate in New York and Singh’s next of kin.
Singh’s immigration journey traces back to his legal entry into the US on October 25, 1992. However, on January 21, 1998, an immigration judge ordered his removal from the US. Singh subsequently returned to India voluntarily at an undisclosed date.
Tragically, Singh’s encounter with US immigration authorities took a fatal turn on June 29, 2023, when he was arrested by US Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol officers while attempting to illegally re-enter the country at the US-Mexico border. He was then transferred to Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Atlanta, and detained at a federal processing center in the city to continue his immigration proceedings.
In accordance with protocol, ERO is required to make notifications to Congress, non-governmental organization stakeholders, and the media in the event of a non-citizen’s death at a detention center. A news release containing relevant details will be posted on ERO’s public website within two business days, ensuring transparency and accountability in such cases.
