Bulgarian business owner dies from untreated diabetes in ICE custody; family and lawmakers demand investigation
Feb 17, 2026·Location: Baldwin, MI
Country of origin: Bulgaria

Nenko Gantchev, a 56-year-old Bulgarian national who lived in Chicago for 30 years, died on December 16, 2025, while in ICE custody at North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, operated by GEO Group. He had been arrested in September 2025 during an immigration enforcement operation. Gantchev had type 2 diabetes and deteriorating health conditions that advocates say went untreated. His death prompted calls from his family and U.S. Representatives Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten for an immediate investigation. The lawmakers toured the facility and expressed frustration that the Department of Homeland Security has not responded to their inquiries about his death, which ICE attributed to natural causes. Immigrant rights advocates, including the ACLU of Michigan and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, documented that multiple detainees at the facility have been denied emergency and routine medical care, prescription medications, and follow-up care after hospitalization. Gantchev's family has sought a private autopsy.
Timeline
Sources
- Bulgarian Chicago business owner dies in ICE custody, sparking calls for 'immediate investigation'
abc7chicago.com·Dec 20, 2025·archived copy
- Family seeking 2nd autopsy after Chicago business owner dies in ICE custody
abc7chicago.com·Jan 7, 2026·archived copy
- Chicago Business Owner Dies in ICE Custody - Grieving Family Seeks Second Autopsy Over Foul Play Concerns
inquisitr.com·Jan 7, 2026·archived copy
- Bulgarian Chicago business owner dies in ICE custody, sparking calls for
- bestlagos.ng
- Bulgarian Chicago business owner Nenko Gantchev dies in ICE custody; family and congresswoman call for 'immediate investigation'
- Immigrant Rights Advocates Send Letter to ICE Documenting Dangerous Medical Conditions and Limited Access to Legal Counsel for People Detained at North Lake Processing Center - La Prensa Newspaper
laprensanewspaper.com·May 20, 2026·archived copy
- ithacajournal.com
- 'We still have no answers': Reps. Stevens and Scholten visit ICE facility
- mlive.com
- petoskeynews.com
- The Ithaca Journal
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