PHILIPSBURG, Pa (WJAC) — Officials with the Department of Homeland Security have confirmed that an illegal migrant from east Africa died this week while in custody at the Moshannon Valley ICE Processing Center in Philipsburg.
Federal immigration officials say 46-year-old Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir — who is a citizen of the country of Eritrea — was pronounced dead early Sunday morning after reportedly experiencing a medical episode.
According to ICE, Abdulkadir was reportedly complaining of chest pain and was immediately transported to the facility’s medical department, where staff attempted to resuscitate him.
Despite efforts from the Moshannon Valley medical staff, as well as local EMS, officials say Abdulkadir was pronounced dead at approximately 3:20 a.m.
ICE officials say Abdulkadir was born in Saudi Arabia, in March of 1979.
Officials say in April of 2018, Abdulkadir reportedly changed his status to become a lawful resident of the U.S., but no records show proof of his citizenship.
Then, in early 2024, federal authorities say he was convicted of wire fraud and theft in the state of Ohio — and sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Upon his release from prison, he was then taken into ICE custody and placed at the Moshannon Valley Center, where he had been held for 215 days.
Officials note that he was awaiting an immigration review hearing while being housed at Moshannon Valley.
Pennsylvania State Police and the Clearfield County coroner’s office are investigating Abdulkadir’s official cause of death.
It is worth noting that this is not the first death investigation that the Moshannon Valley Center has dealt with in recent months.
In early August, ICE reported the death of a 32-year-old Chinese national, who had allegedly hanged himself inside one of the facility’s showers.
Last month, the man’s family sued the federal government, demanding answers about his death.