Russian Man Dies in ICE Custody

Federal officials say Igor Ziazin was discovered “unresponsive”in his bunk

A Russian man died Sunday while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement near the U.S.-Mexico border south of San Diego, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Igor Ziazin, 46, had been in U.S. custody since April 24, while trying to enter the country through the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Ziazin had been deported in 2009, officials said.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday, paramedics were called to the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

ICE employees say they found Ziazin “unresponsive”in his bunk and attempted CPR to revive him, according to a news release.

Ziazin was pronounced dead while on the way to a nearby hospital, ICE officials said.

He died from hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said Thursday.

ICE Officials said representatives from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of the San Diego Medical Examiner were also on scene.

ICE officials say Ziazin did not have a criminal history in the U.S.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was expected to interview Ziazin to determine the next steps for him to enter the U.S. legally.

Contact Us