Death of Cuban Detainee at Stewart Detention Center Raises Questions About ICE Practices

On the night of April 28, 2026, 33-year-old Cuban immigrant Denny Adán González was found unresponsive in his cell at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Emergency personnel responded, used a cut-down tool, began CPR, and paramedics continued resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead at 11:11 p.m. ICE’s notification to Congress lists suicide as the suspected cause while the official cause remains under investigation.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ICE detention rose from about 40,000 in 2025 to 60,000 in 2026. Stewart, a CoreCivic-run prison in Lumpkin, Georgia, can house 2,000 people; it held about 1,650 male detainees, outnumbering the town’s 1,172 residents. The center has faced allegations of substandard medical care and solitary confinement. ICE reported 18 deaths in its custody during four months of 2026; González is the 30th death since October 2025 and the fourth suicide at Stewart, which has recorded deaths in solitary confinement.

The Guardian

ICE’s press release affirmed a commitment to “ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments.” CoreCivic’s Ryan Gustin expressed that the company is deeply saddened by González’s death. CoreCivic staff said they called a medical emergency and attempted life-saving measures, but the individual was pronounced deceased before transport.

The Guardian

Project South’s Azadeh Shahshahani said, “As tragedies mount at Stewart, we renew our call for this prison to be shut down.” Immigrant-rights groups have criticized Stewart’s remote location, restrictive environment, and alleged medical misconduct.

The Guardian

Some reports indicate González was placed in solitary confinement after a guard altercation, a detail absent from CoreCivic’s statement. The cause of death is listed as “suspected suicide” in congressional notices, yet ICE says the official determination is pending. Sources differ on death totals: one cites 18 deaths in early 2026; another references 30 deaths since October 2025.

The Guardian

• “We are deeply saddened by and take very seriously the passing of any individual in our care,” — Ryan Gustin, CoreCivic spokesperson

The Straits Times

• “called a medical emergency after finding an unresponsive individual inside of his living area” — CoreCivic staff

The Guardian

• “committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments” — ICE

The Guardian

• “As tragedies mount at Stewart, we renew our call for this deadly prison to be shut down,” — Azadeh Shahshahani, Project South

The Guardian

Congressional oversight committees have received ICE’s notification and may hold hearings on detention conditions. Project South and other advocates plan to press for legislation to close Stewart. ICE has signaled investigations into González’s death, including the role of solitary confinement and medical response.

The Guardian