A 56-year-old Chicago resident arrested during the recent fall immigration enforcement “blitz” has died while being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a privately run facility in Michigan.
Nenko Gantchev died Monday at North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, which is contracted by ICE to detain people without legal immigration status. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said the death is suspected to be from natural causes, though the official cause remains under investigation.
Gantchev’s wife, who asked not to be identified, said the family is still searching for answers.
“I want people to know what happened to him — a man who lived 30 years here, hardworking, paid taxes — and they treated him like an animal,” she told ABC7. “They are so rude to him… They treated him like he was a murderer.”
A family friend echoed that sentiment, saying Gantchev had deep ties to the city and had been working toward legal status.
“He had real estate here. He had a business here. He was here a very long time,” Anna told the I-Team. “He wanted very much to be an American citizen. He was married to an American citizen.”
Lawmaker demands “immediate, transparent” review
Chicago-area Congresswoman Delia Ramirez called for a full inquiry into Gantchev’s death, including reports from other detainees that he sought medical help but did not receive it in time.
Ramirez also said deaths in ICE detention have risen sharply this year, adding in an online statement: “We are aware of at least 30 deaths at ICE detention centers this year, making 2025 the deadliest year for immigrants in ICE custody.”
Gantchev was among hundreds of detainees a federal judge in Chicago ordered released on bond last month. Federal officials reportedly did not view Gantchev as a high risk to public safety. However, his wife said that release was later blocked by the Circuit Appeals Court, leaving him facing a difficult choice: voluntarily return to Bulgaria or remain detained while pursuing bond.
His wife said the judge’s order briefly renewed their hope, especially because Gantchev was diabetic and needed medical care.
“I told him, ‘You have to make the decision, but please don’t leave me alone here,’” she said. “He’s paid taxes this whole time; he’s not a criminal. Why do they treat him like this?”
Why he was held in Michigan
Contract records show the North Lake facility was used to detain people arrested in the Chicago area because Illinois law restricts the use of private prisons and local correctional facilities for immigration detention.
Gantchev moved to Chicago about 30 years ago on a student visa, later received a work permit, and had owned a trucking company since 2008. He married his wife in 2017, and the couple were working to secure a green card through their marriage. He was arrested on Sept. 23 during an interview related to his green card application at the USCIS Chicago office.
His wife said she was notified of his death on Dec. 16 — the couple’s eight-year wedding anniversary.
“We had a very good life together,” she said. “This is very hard for me.”
Family says his health was worsening
Gantchev’s wife and friends told the I-Team that for months, he had reported by phone that his physical condition was deteriorating.
She said she became alarmed when she did not receive a routine nightly call from him. When she searched his name on the ICE detainee locator website, she said it appeared he had been released. The next morning, she said she received a call from the Bulgarian Embassy informing her that her husband had died while in ICE custody.
She said she has not received additional details since then.
ICE account of what happened
In a statement, ICE said Gantchev was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell during routine checks. The agency said facility medical staff began CPR and contacted local emergency medical services.
A Chicago funeral director told ABC7 I-Team that an autopsy was conducted by the Big Rapids Morgue and that Gantchev’s remains would be cremated, in accordance with the family’s wishes.
Dispute over his record and detention conditions
Christine Sauvé of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center said Gantchev’s death reflects longstanding concerns about detention conditions, including medical care, and noted that advocates have tracked deaths in ICE custody since 2006.
In public statements, ICE described Gantchev as a “criminal,” and a DHS spokesperson reportedly called allegations of mistreatment in detention facilities “false.”
Court records cited in the report indicate that although Gantchev had previous encounters with Chicago police, he was not charged with serious crimes and had only traffic-related violations. The report also notes that he was arrested by Park Ridge police in 2008 for suspected DUI, but ABC7 I-Team said it could not locate court records showing how that case was resolved or whether charges were filed.
The report states that Gantchev was granted lawful permanent resident status in May 2005, but ICE officials later said his status was denied in 2009. In 2023, an immigration judge ordered him removed to Bulgaria.
Gantchev’s wife and friends maintain that his more recent green card application was close to approval.
“He was trying to do it right,” Anna said, “and it’s sad that he’ll never see the fruits of that labor. Maybe, if enough attention is called to what is happening here, maybe they can save someone else’s life.”
