SAN ANTONIO – Tien Xuan Phan, a 55-year-old citizen of Vietnam, died July 19, while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency confirmed in a statement.
Phan was pronounced dead at 5:48 p.m. at Methodist Hospital Northeast in San Antonio. The official cause of death remains under investigation.
Phan had been held at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center in Karnes City. According to ICE, he was initially transported to Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital on July 18 after exhibiting seizures, vomiting, and becoming unresponsive. He was later airlifted to Methodist Hospital Northeast for further treatment, where he passed away the following day.
ICE records show that Phan had been ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge in April 2012 but had failed to comply. He was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers on June 2.
In line with ICE protocol, the agency has notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Vietnam Embassy. Congressional offices, nongovernmental organizations, and the public will be formally notified, with a public report posted on ICE’s website within two business days.
Further details will be available as the investigation continues.