A 43‑year‑old immigrant from Georgia, Mamuka Artmeladze, died in ICE custody at the Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana after being found unconscious in his cell on the night of June 4, authorities reported Monday.

This marked the 19th death of a foreign national in a U.S. immigration detention center so far in 2026, and the second death at this facility in less than two months, which has been under investigation for alleged negligence.

RELATED: US Claims ICE Will Prioritize Security Over Deportations During World Cup

Artmeladze received emergency assistance and was transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead two hours later. The official cause of death is pending autopsy results.

He had been detained by the U.S. Border Patrol on September 25, 2022, released on parole, and ordered to report to ICE within 60 days – an order he did not comply with. He was detained again on February 5, 2026, during an operation targeting commercial drivers posing a public safety risk near Alabama, and ICE took him into custody after determining he had no legal status to remain in the U.S., the agency said in a statement.

In 2025, the first year of the Trump administration, 32 people died in ICE custody – the highest number in more than 20 years.

IN THIS ARTICLE