Another Migrant Life Lost In Immigration Detention: Choung Won Ahn, Presente

Border Angels has learned that Chuong Won Ahn, a 74 year old man, has died by suicide in ICE custody while imprisoned at the Mesa Verde Detention Center in Bakersfield. His attorneys’ pleas for release were denied despite him being at extremely high risk as he had diabetes, hypertension, and other heart related issues. According to the ACLU, suicides in ICE detention have increased at alarming rates during this administration. We are saddened, and angered to continue seeing our folks die in detention, knowing it can be prevented.
This COVID related tragedy is further evidence of ICE's inhumane treatment of immigrants in its care and custody. Once again, ICE refuses to honor it's legal and moral duties to those it detained, when they have abundance of alternatives to keeping immigrants in detention. ICE instead chooses to house hundreds of immigrants in close quarters - a veritable breeding grounds for COVID!
It is heartbreaking and devastating that this person’s last moments were in ICE custody.
This is the third death we have learned about since the start of this pandemic, we must not be silent and act now before we continue losing our folks in detention. We urge you to help us act now and support out Familias Reunidas Bond Program. It is critical we free as many people as possible but we need your help! We will not stop, we want our people #FreeAndAlive !