UNITED SIKHS is filing Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA) regarding Jaspal Singh, Sikh Immigrant who recently passed in ICE detention

NEW YORK – May 1, 2024 – Today, the Sikh community mourns the loss of Mr. Jaspal Singh, a 57-year-old immigrant who tragically passed away while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, raising serious questions about the adequacy of medical care provided to individuals under ICE custody.

In response to this heartbreaking event, UNITED SIKH’s Legal team is working to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with relevant government agencies to obtain necessary information including the cause and circumstances of his death, the length of detention with ICE, places of his detention, details as to any reasonable efforts or steps taken by the agency to obtain him medical treatment,  when and where was he taken for medical treatment and other related legally significant information. 

Mr. Singh’s passing in ICE detention also underscores the serious concerns about the processes of enforcement and removal operations (ERO). For example, a review by POLITICO of 22 deaths of detainees in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody between 2013 and 2018 revealed malfunctioning software and troubling gaps in use of technology, such as failure to properly document patient care or scribbling documentation in the margins of forms. Several other reviews echo similarly persistent complaints from experts and advocates who say attention to the medical needs of asylum seekers is indifferent at best.

“UNITED SIKHS will utilize the information from the FOIA request as an input for advocacy strategy in order to urge Congress and pertinent government agencies to take immediate action to implement humane policies that guarantee compassionate treatment for ICE detainees” said Dr. Gabisa, UNITED SIKH’S Director of Civil Rights Advocacy  

For media inquiries, please contact sikhcivilrights@unitedsikhs.org