SEPTEMBER 24, 2026
Contact: media@haitianbridge.org,  Paige Censale, pcensale@haitianbridge.org

SAN DIEGO, CA — Haitian Bridge Alliance is demanding a full and independent investigation into the death of Carlos Josué Marchena Marchena, a Costa Rican national who died in ICE custody after his family reported that he repeatedly complained about inadequate care for his diabetes. His death raises serious questions about the medical care he received, whether his complaints were properly addressed, and whether timely intervention could have prevented his death.

Far too many people have died in immigration detention. Each death represents a human life lost while in the custody and care of the United States government—and each deserves more than an internal review and unanswered questions.

“Carlos Josué Marchena Marchena should not have had to die in custody while reportedly asking for medical care,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “Far too many people have died in immigration detention, and we continue to see families left searching for answers after their loved ones are gone. The government has a duty to protect people in its custody under both domestic and international law. We demand a full accounting of what happened to Carlos, whether his death could have been prevented, and accountability for any failures that contributed to it.”

HBA is calling for the immediate preservation and independent review of all medical records, medication records, sick-call requests, surveillance footage, incident reports, and other evidence concerning Mr. Marchena Marchena’s detention and death. This investigation must also examine the broader failures in the immigration detention system that are placing medically vulnerable people at risk.

People in immigration custody are not disposable. Their lives, their health, and their dignity must matter. HBA stands with Mr. Marchena Marchena’s family in demanding transparency, justice, and accountability.

ABOUT HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), also known as “The Bridge”, is a grassroots community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies, foreign policy, and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black migrants, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses. HBA also seeks to elevate the issues unique to Black migrants and builds solidarity and collective movement toward policy change. Anpil men chay pa lou (“Many hands make the load light”). Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @haitianbridge