Durham man, 29, dies of leukemia after ICE delays care, releases him in coma
Jul 24, 2026·Location: Durham, NC
Country of origin: Mexico

Prisciliano Trejo Ricano, a 29-year-old Mexican national who had lived in Durham, North Carolina since age 3, died July 24 from an aggressive form of leukemia while effectively in ICE custody. He was arrested June 19 and transferred to Stewart Detention Center in Georgia, where he began feeling ill on July 6, reporting coughing up blood, severe pain, and a bruise that would not heal. Advocates say ICE failed to provide treatment for over a week despite his requests for care; he was hospitalized July 13 and fell into a coma by July 15, at which point ICE formally released him before he died. His father and cousin described him as previously healthy, with his father saying he could not understand how his condition deteriorated so quickly. His name does not appear on ICE's official list of in-custody deaths, and the agency will not investigate due to a policy change eliminating reporting requirements for deaths within 30 days of release. Advocacy groups including Detention Watch Network, Project South, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, El Refugio, and Carolina Migrant Network called for investigations into medical neglect at Stewart Detention Center, while the ACLU reports at least 57 deaths in immigration detention since the start of the second Trump administration, more than double the prior four years combined.
Timeline
Sources
- Man diagnosed with leukemia dies after time in ICE custody at Georgia
- A family seeks answers about a young ICE detainee’s untimely death
NBC News·Sep 9, 2026
- Mexican Man From Durham Dies From Leukemia While In ICE Custody
indyweek.com·Jul 30, 2026·archived copy
- Advocates demand answers after ICE detainee dies following ‘delayed’ medical treatment
- The agonizing death of Prisciliano Trejo: ICE released him to his family while he was in a coma
english.elpais.com·Jul 31, 2026·archived copy
- Muere joven mexicano bajo custodia de ICE tras varias semanas sin recibir atención médica que pedía
unotv.com·Jul 29, 2026·archived copy
- “Estamos desolados e indignados”. Comunidad de luto tras la muerte de otro migrante bajo custodia de ICE
KTTC·Jul 30, 2026·archived copy
- Muere mexicano con leucemia tras permanecer bajo custodia de ICE en Georgia
notigape.com·Jul 30, 2026·archived copy
- Family: ICE denied care to Stewart detainee who died of leukemia - Now Georgia
nowgeorgia.com·Aug 2, 2026·archived copy
- Questions over the death of Prisciliano Trejo: he got sick while in ICE custody and did not receive medical treatment
english.elpais.com·Aug 7, 2026·archived copy
- Deaths in ICE Detention More Than Doubles Under Trump
ACLU·Sep 22, 2026
More incidents in North Carolina
- Durham family with young children deported to Honduras days after asylum appointmentSep 17, 2026 · Charlotte, NC
- Charlotte mother and 6-year-old daughter detained at ICE check-in, deported to VenezuelaSep 16, 2026 · Charlotte, NC
- Detention officer forged ICE documents to hold 20 immigrant inmatesSep 11, 2026 · Greensboro, NC
- NC teacher and grandmother detained by ICE despite dismissed case, granted bondAug 24, 2026 · Charlotte, NC
- Russian asylum seeker detained at routine ICE check-in in CharlotteAug 18, 2026 · Charlotte, NC
- Venezuelan asylum seeker detained by ICE after routine check-in in CharlotteAug 12, 2026 · Charlotte, NC