Families Of Two Immigrants Who Died In ICE Custody Question Their Death Due To “Natural Causes”

Maksym Chernyak, a 44-year-old Ukrainian man who fled Russia’s invasion, died in U.S. immigration custody at the Krome North Service Processing Center after staff delayed calling 911 for over 40 minutes during a stroke. Neurologist Altaf Saadi said, “Every minute a stroke is not treated is brain tissue lost or damaged.” Chernyak had no prior medical conditions noted during intake but exhibited seizure-like symptoms on Feb. 18. Despite suffering multiple seizures, staff suspected intoxication and waited to call for emergency help. He was declared brain-dead and died two days later.

Chernyak had been transferred to Krome after a domestic dispute led to an arrest. His partner, Oksana Tarasiuk, called it a misunderstanding worsened by language barriers. ICE detained him via immigration detainer. She said, “If not for all these conditions he was in, if not for all the injustice, he would still be alive.” Medical experts reviewing his case called the delayed response “substandard care,” especially given the controlled environment of a detention facility.

His death was one of four in Florida ICE custody between December and April—half of all such deaths nationwide for fiscal year 2025. Another concerning case is that of 29-year-old Genry Ruiz-Guillen from Honduras, who died in January. The autopsy listed “complications of schizoaffective disorder,” a designation criticized by multiple experts. “Mental illness, by itself, is not a proper cause of death,” said Dr. Michael Baden. Toxicology showed an excessive mix of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs, and doctors suspect neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a treatable but potentially fatal reaction to medications.

Ruiz-Guillen had been hospitalized several times with severe symptoms including seizures, confusion, and fainting, but it’s unclear if he saw specialists or received appropriate care. Psychiatrist Jim Recht called the diagnosis “infuriating” and suggested that deaths like his raise major concerns about medical mismanagement. “That’s a worrisome pattern,” said Paul Appelbaum of Columbia University. “People who are being confined under government supervision are dying for unexplained reasons.”

ICE has yet to release requested medical records or mortality reviews. A wrongful-death lawsuit is being prepared on behalf of Chernyak. Tarasiuk, now alone in Florida, wants answers: “I would want them to stop tormenting people.”

Link: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article304966226.html

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