WINNFIELD — A 36-year-old man from Costa Rica who family members say repeatedly complained about missing insulin shots and meals died Sept. 18 after being found unresponsive at the Winn Correctional Center, officials and relatives said, marking another death this year at the Louisiana detention complex.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said staff discovered Carlos Josue Marchena Marchena unresponsive at the Winn facility and that lifesaving measures were begun before he was transported by ambulance to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The agency said the official cause of death is pending further medical examination.
Family members, a girlfriend and a detainee who was held in the cell beside Marchena told The Associated Press that he had complained while being moved between facilities in several states that he had missed meals and insulin injections and was not drinking enough water to control his type 1 diabetes. They said his condition worsened after his arrival at Winn and that he died less than a week later.
Concerns about medical care at the facility
The Winn Correctional Center has drawn scrutiny in recent months. A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report found the complex had fallen short of federal standards, including in medical care. Two other ICE detainees have died at the same complex since April.
Advocates who monitor immigrant detention say the deaths signal systemic problems in oversight and care as the federal government detains tens of thousands of immigrants amid an expanded deportation effort. Tracking by The Associated Press indicates Marchena is at least the 58th ICE detainee to die since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025. Other accounts in media coverage have described the toll as nearly 60 detainees since that date.
“Marchena received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals,”
The agency provided the above statement defending the care Marchena received. Officials did not provide further detail about his treatment, timing of care or whether insulin or meals were administered during his transport and stay.
Medical risks for people with type 1 diabetes
Medical specialists say consistent access to insulin, food and fluids is essential to prevent life-threatening complications in people with type 1 diabetes. Without those interventions, blood sugar can spike or fall to dangerous levels, potentially leading to coma or death.
Relatives and a cellmate told reporters that Marchena repeatedly raised concerns about missed doses and insufficient nutrition. ICE and the detention facility have not publicly released a timeline of his movements between facilities, nor a full account of medical logs and interventions while in custody.
Local and federal oversight questions
The Winn Correctional Center is operated under contract to hold federal detainees. The recent inspector general findings and multiple deaths this year have heightened calls from immigrant-rights groups and some lawmakers for more transparency and for independent reviews of care and monitoring at detention sites.
What follows is a brief snapshot of the situation as reported:
- Individual: Carlos Josue Marchena Marchena, 36, Costa Rican national
- Date found unresponsive: Sept. 18
- Facility: Winn Correctional Center, Winnfield, Louisiana
- Context: Family and fellow detainee reported missed insulin shots, missed meals and limited hydration during transfers
- Official status: Cause of death pending further medical examination
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| ICE detainee deaths since Jan. 2025 (AP tracking) | 58 |
| Recent deaths at Winn Correctional Center since April | At least 2 other detainees |
Family members have requested more detailed information from ICE and the facility about the care Marchena received, whether required insulin and meals were provided at scheduled intervals, and documentation of any medical evaluations performed while he was being transferred between detention centers. They also seek answers about the delays they say occurred in addressing his complaints.
Immigrant-rights organizations called the death further evidence that federal oversight of detention health care needs strengthening. Agency officials maintain that detainees receive appropriate medical attention and that contracted facilities must meet standards, but critics say inspections and enforcement have been insufficient.
As investigators review the circumstances surrounding Marchena’s death and await the official cause from medical examiners, the case adds to growing scrutiny of medical care in immigrant detention — and to questions about how chronic health conditions are managed during transfers and while people are held in custody.
Reporting for this article included information from The Associated Press.
