58-year-old Indian-American detained at Atlanta airport dies in custody


New York, May 19 (PTI): A 58-year-old Indian who was detained by American customs officials last week for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country died in custody at an Atlanta hospital.

Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken in custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Center for two days. He died on Tuesday afternoon at the hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure.

Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied him entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement.

Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Center where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes.

On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patel's blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away.

ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is "undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases".

The agency informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patel's kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are "exceedingly rare" and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017.

  

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Comment on this article

  • ca girishkk, m'lore/dxb

    Fri, May 19 2017

    Without prejudice..,
    I only wonder what happen to the people/think tank behind Madison Square Euphoria...,? if I am not mistaken, those who claiming themselves & hysterically shouting as feeling proud of Hindustani etc., etc., .... before the media...., as Hindustani's are at the receiving end in US for one or the other pre-text...!!! .... feeling pity on them, ... of late as I read these kind of news..., all FEKU migrants must think twice b4 venture to US travel/migration.

    TRUMP is not at all pro-Hindustani..., I am still waiting for a strong reaction from the Union Govt of Hindustan.

    jh

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Leslie, udupi

    Fri, May 19 2017

    It looks like a time bound incident...
    Probably enhanced by the trauma...
    RIP to the departed soul...

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Fri, May 19 2017

    Who is responsible for this Murder ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, USA

    Fri, May 19 2017

    He, himself. Obama OUT, Trump IN!!!! All ILLEGALS, specially Gujjus, Cow Belt & undivided Andra-Indians people must be CAREFUL!!!!!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kavya, Mulky

    Fri, May 19 2017

    Security has increased because of radical islam. Sikh and hindu at the recieving end

    DisAgree [10] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, USA

    Fri, May 19 2017

    If you are feeling so unsecured to travel any country, AVOID that country and say "Bharat Mata ki Jai "

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Fri, May 19 2017

    after the usa immigration denied patel's reservation he might have got heart attack. rip gujju baai.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Fri, May 19 2017

    zakir naik will not go 2 usa. he cannot answer american immigration questions & his ulta-pulta answers. trump bai ko salaam.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, Mangalore/ UAE

    Fri, May 19 2017

    The news was not about Zakir Naik.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abdul Jabbar, Mangalore

    Fri, May 19 2017

    Whatever the news is, you want to bash islam and muslims first.Spit out the venom and you will be free.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • MILAN, LUCERNE

    Fri, May 19 2017

    AUR POOJA KARO TRUMP KO.

    I HAVE BEEN ONCE. IN IMMIGRATION IT IS HORRIBLE. ASKING TOO MANY QUESTIONS NEARLY FOR ALMOST HALF AN HOUR. MANHATTAN LOOKS LIKE SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD IN DUBAI. I WILL NOT GO TO AMERICA AGAIN.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kumari, Karkala

    Fri, May 19 2017

    For some community people no need to go USA, for them india is like usa , can show all dadagiri

    DisAgree [14] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, USA

    Fri, May 19 2017

    As if other community people are 24 carot GOLD!!!!!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse


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