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A 36-year-old Costa Rican man, Carlos Josue Marchena Marchena, has died at the Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana, marking the third death at the facility within six months. According to family members, Marchena repeatedly raised concerns about missed insulin injections, skipped meals, and inadequate water-critical factors for managing his type 1 diabetes.
Marchena was found unresponsive on September 18 at the detention center. Staff attempted life-saving measures before he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His sister, girlfriend, and a fellow detainee in an adjacent cell all reported that Marchena had voiced serious health concerns during his transfers between multiple detention facilities across different states.
His family noted that his health rapidly declined after arriving at Winn Correctional Center, and he died less than a week later. The official cause of death is still pending further medical examination.
The Winn facility had recently been cited by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General for failing to meet federal standards, including those related to medical care. Two other detainees have died at the same facility since April.
Marchena’s death marks at least the 58th ICE detainee fatality since President Donald Trump resumed office in January 2025. Immigration advocates argue that these deaths highlight ongoing neglect and insufficient oversight amid the administration’s strict deportation policies.
ICE, however, stated that Marchena received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals. LaSalle Corrections, the contractor managing the facility alongside the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office, confirmed an investigation is underway but declined further comment, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining high standards of care.
Medical experts underline the necessity of consistent access to insulin, food, and water for individuals with type 1 diabetes to avoid life-threatening complications. Dr. Rajesh Garg of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center explained that stress and inadequate care can exacerbate health risks for diabetic patients.
Reports from detainees have frequently cited inconsistent access to insulin and medication. Moreover, a recent DHS inspection at Winn uncovered violations relating to medical care, food storage, and other operational areas. Inspectors found frozen food improperly stored and noted lapses in maintaining treatment documentation, raising concerns about detainee health and safety.
Marchena’s sister described how her brother told her no one was monitoring his blood sugar levels and that his condition worsened after being placed in a security cell in Michigan following a dispute with another detainee. After his transfer to Winn, Marchena complained of chest pain and insufficient nutrition, sometimes receiving spoiled meals.
A neighboring detainee, Luis Herrera Andy, recounted that Marchena only received insulin injections sporadically and expressed frustration with the lack of adequate medical help. In the days leading to his death, Marchena experienced symptoms such as stomach pain, headaches, chills, and vomiting.
His girlfriend reported that a prescribed pill did little to ease his chest pain, and he called her shortly before his death to say the treatment was ineffective.
Cardiac arrest, a possible cause of death, can be triggered by imbalanced insulin levels in diabetic patients. Symptoms like those Marchena exhibited may indicate dangerous insulin deficiency or other underlying conditions.
Marchena, who arrived in the U.S. without legal status in February 2021, had prior misdemeanor convictions and was taken into custody on assault charges in Michigan. An immigration judge ordered his deportation in July. His family shared that Marchena, who was a ride service driver and father of four, had sought bail and voluntary deportation to Costa Rica, but these requests were denied.
The Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office have not responded to inquiries, and the investigation into Marchena’s death continues amid ongoing scrutiny of ICE detention conditions and detainee healthcare.