IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE RESPONDS
TO DEATH OF INS DETAINEE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - - The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) issued the following statement responding to the October 23, 2001, death of an INS detainee at the Hudson County Jail in Kearny, New Jersey.

"A 55-year-old Pakistani male, who was detained on September 19th by the INS for being in the U.S. on an expired visa, was found unconscious in his cell by jail authorities early Tuesday afternoon.

"The victim had no visible signs of injury or trauma. The local medical examiner will investigate the death and make a determination on the cause of death.

"The victim who had accepted an order by an immigration judge to leave the United States was in the Hudson County Jail pending receipt of deportation documents for his return to his country of origin.

"INS is not releasing the detainee's name at this time, pending notification of next of kin by Pakistani authorities."

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01-556