A 36-year-old Costa Rican man with type 1 diabetes died after he was found unresponsive at Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, Louisiana, on September 18, the Associated Press reported. His family says he complained of missed insulin shots, missed meals, and too little water in the days before his death. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says he received proper medical care.
No official cause of death has been released. ICE said the cause is pending further medical examination, and the family's allegations have not been independently confirmed.
The case raises broader questions about how detention facilities manage chronic illnesses such as type 1 diabetes, which requires insulin every day and can quickly become life-threatening without it.
Two Accounts of His Final Days
ICE said staff at the ICE-contracted facility found Carlos Josue Marchena Marchena unresponsive and began lifesaving measures before he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
"Marchena received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals," the agency said. A spokesperson for LaSalle Corrections, which manages the facility with the Winn Parish Sheriff's Office, said the death is under review and declined to answer questions, according to the AP.
His family describes something different. His sister, his girlfriend, and a man held in the neighboring cell told the AP that Marchena complained of missed meals and insulin shots and of not drinking enough water as he was moved between detention facilities. His family said his condition worsened after he arrived at Winn and that he died less than a week later.
His sister, Franciny Marchena, said his health began to decline about two weeks before his death, while he was held at another immigration detention center, and that he told her no one was checking his blood sugar.
These are allegations from relatives and another detainee. ICE disputes that his care was inadequate, and no medical examination has yet determined why he died.
A Facility Already Under Scrutiny
Marchena is the third detainee to die at Winn in less than six months and at least the 58th ICE detainee to die since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, according to AP tracking. Another Winn detainee, Mamuka Artmeladze, died in June after being found unresponsive, the AP reported at the time.
In June, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General released a report on an unannounced March 2025 inspection of Winn. It found that the facility did not fully comply with detention standards in several areas, including medical care, food service, environmental health and safety, and use of force, the Washington Examiner reported. The report said medical staff failed to keep updated treatment documents and laboratory testing records.
ICE agreed with nine recommendations and had carried out several of them. A DHS spokesperson described the report as showing only "minor infractions," States Newsroom reported.
Why Missed Insulin Is Dangerous
People with type 1 diabetes make little or no insulin on their own. Without regular doses, blood sugar can climb, and the body can begin producing acids called ketones, a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA can develop within hours to days and can be fatal without treatment.
Dr. Rajesh Garg, who heads the diabetes unit at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, told the AP that enough food, water, and insulin at regular intervals are crucial for managing blood sugar. "If they are under any stress, then they need even more care, and then they need to test their blood sugar at regular times," he said.
Warning signs of DKA include extreme thirst, frequent urination, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fruity-smelling breath, fast breathing, and confusion. Anyone with type 1 diabetes who is vomiting, confused, or breathing rapidly needs emergency care. Missed insulin should never be treated as a routine delay. Only a medical examination can establish what happened in Marchena's case.
Steps Families of Detained Relatives Can Take
Families with a loved one in immigration detention who has diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy, or another chronic condition can act early. Gather written records from the person's doctor, including diagnoses, current medications, and insulin doses, and share them with the detainee's attorney and the facility.
Keep a log of calls, including dates, complaints, and any reported missed doses. If a relative reports missed medication or worsening symptoms, contact the facility and the person's deportation officer in writing and ask for a medical evaluation. Attorneys and legal aid groups can also raise urgent medical concerns.
ICE detention standards call for a medical screening soon after arrival and a fuller health assessment within 14 days. Whether those steps were followed for Marchena has not been made public.
Key questions remain unanswered, including the official cause of death and whether facility medical records match the family's account. MedicalDaily will report the findings of the medical examination when they are released.
Key Questions Answered
Who died? Carlos Josue Marchena Marchena, a 36-year-old Costa Rican man with type 1 diabetes, was found unresponsive at Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, Louisiana, on September 18 and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
What does his family allege? His sister, his girlfriend, and a neighboring detainee told the AP that he complained of missed insulin shots, missed meals, and too little water, and his family said his health worsened at Winn.
What does ICE say? ICE said he received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals, and that staff began lifesaving measures when he was found.
Has a cause of death been released? No. ICE said the official cause is pending further medical examination.
Has the facility been inspected? Yes. A DHS Inspector General report released in June found that Winn did not fully comply with standards for medical care and food service, among other areas.
Why is missed insulin dangerous? People with type 1 diabetes need insulin every day. Without it, blood sugar can rise, and diabetic ketoacidosis can develop within hours to days.
What can families of detainees do? Share medical records with the attorney and the facility, keep a log of reported problems, and request medical evaluations in writing when symptoms appear.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
