Simratpal Singh
Simratpal Singh, a 21-year-old man from Tarn Taran in Punjab, India, died on May 3, 2019, while held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at La Paz County Jail in Goodyear, Arizona. His sister, from the Bachre village, spoke to The Tribune about him and his family. ICE said he died by hanging, while the North American Punjabi Association reported that jail officials found him unresponsive before hospital staff declared him dead. The cause of death has not been established, ICE has withheld its investigation records under a Freedom of Information Act request, and his family has asked for access to bus camera footage.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed). ICE says he died by hanging, but the North American Punjabi Association says the cause has not been established, ICE has withheld its investigation records, and his family has asked for bus camera footage.
Reported by: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (the agency that held him); North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) (advocates).