ICE Detainee Dies at Georgia Facility Amid Hunger Strike Protest

Luis Sandoval, 48, a Salvadoran detainee, died early Oct. 23, 2026, at the Folkston ICE Processing Center in Georgia. Staff found him with a ligature around his neck around 1:46 a.m. and could not revive him; he was pronounced dead at 2:28 a.m. He had been arrested Oct. 2 and transferred to Folkston on Oct. 8. The cause of death remains under investigation.

About 500 detainees began a hunger strike in early October over conditions; whether Sandoval took part is unknown. Advocates allege retaliation and threatened force-feeding. Sens. Warnock and Ossoff asked DHS to investigate the facility, run by GEO Group, which a 2022 inspector general report found fell short of detention standards.

ICE said it is "committed to ensuring...safe, secure and humane environments" and awaits autopsy results.