Cambodian refugee and permanent resident dies in ICE custody at Indiana facility
Feb 20, 2026·Location: Miami, IN
Country of origin: Cambodia

Lorth Sim, a 59-year-old Cambodian national who entered the U.S. as a refugee in 1983 and became a lawful permanent resident in 1986, died in custody at Miami Correctional Facility in Miami County, Indiana on February 16, 2026. Sim was arrested by ICE in Boston on December 30, 2025, and transferred to the Indiana facility to await deportation following an immigration judge's removal order to Cambodia. He was found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead at 7:10 a.m. His death was the seventh in federal immigration custody in 2026. The cause of death remained under investigation, and organizers reported concerns about medical neglect among ICE detainees at the facility, prompting U.S. Congressman André Carson and other lawmakers to seek answers.
Timeline
Sources
- ICE responds after detainee dies in custody: What we know
Newsweek·Feb 18, 2026·archived copy
- Cambodian national dies in ICE custody in Indiana
thestar.com.my·Feb 20, 2026·archived copy
- Cambodian national dies while detained by ICE at Indiana correctional facility - Kokomo Standard
kokomostandard.com·Feb 20, 2026·archived copy
- Singapore News — World News Agencies Directory | News Agencies by Country
- Lawmakers demand answers after ICE detainee dies at Miami Correctional Facility
WFYI·Feb 18, 2026·archived copy
- tickets.indystar.com
- amp.indystar.com
- indystar.com
- ICE detainee dies at Miami Correctional in Indiana
ipm.org·Feb 18, 2026·archived copy
- Sign In - The Indianapolis Star
- Cambodian national dies in Ice custody in US state of Indiana
- ICE detainee dies in custody at Miami Correctional Facility in Indiana
WRTV·Feb 18, 2026·archived copy
- Fort Wayne joins in on statewide day of action calling for end to ICE detention at Miami Correctional Facility
21alivenews.com·May 16, 2026·archived copy
- Immigrant held by ICE at Indiana prison dies in custody
- ICE detainee dies in custody at Indiana prison - Inside INdiana Business
insideindianabusiness.com·Feb 18, 2026·archived copy
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