ICE announces death of illegal alien from Mexico in Missouri detention facility

WASHINGTON D.C.-Leo Cruz-Silva, a 34-year-old an illegal alien from Mexico died Oct. 4 at the Ste. Genevieve County Jail in Missouri. He was pronounced dead at 3:47 p.m. by Ste. Genevieve County EMS paramedics.

Earlier that day, a county jail staff member found Cruz-Silva with a sheet tied around his neck in what looked like a suicide attempt. Jail staff administered CPR until emergency medical services arrived. Paramedics continued lifesaving efforts but were unable to revive him.

Cruz-Silva entered the U.S. at an unknown date and location. On June 2, 2010, the Tipton County Sheriff's Office in Covington, Tennessee, arrested him for disorderly conduct and booked him into the Tipton County Jail. ICE encountered Cruz-Silva at the jail and lodged an immigration detainer. On July 14, 2011, an immigration judge in Memphis, Tennessee, ordered him removed to Mexico in absentia.

On Feb. 19, 2017, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Winchester, Tennessee, arrested Cruz-Silva for a probation violation and booked him into the Franklin County Jail. ICE encountered him again at the jail and lodged another immigration detainer. On March 23, 2017, ICE arrested Cruz-Silva upon his release from the jail pending removal. He was removed to Mexico on April 18, 2017.

On an unknown date, Cruz-Silva reentered the U.S. illegally. On Sept. 26, 2020, U.S. Border Patrol agents in Laredo, Texas, arrested him and returned him to Mexico under Title 42 authority.

Cruz-Silva again illegally reentered the U.S. for a third time. On Sept. 30, 2025, Festus Police in Missouri arrested him for public intoxication and notified ICE, which lodged an immigration detainer. On Oct. 1, ICE Chicago arrested Cruz-Silva upon his release and served him with a notice of intent to reinstate a previous removal order.

ICE notified the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility and the Mexican consulate about Cruz-Silva's death, as required by agency policy.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders, and the media upon an official report of a detained illegal alien's death, and per agency policy, posts a news release with relevant details on the ICE public website within two business days. This information may be accessed in the ICE.gov Newsroom. Additionally, congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Bill of 2018 require ICE to make public all reports regarding an in-custody death within 90 days. These reports may be accessed on the Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments, and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during ICE detention is an alien denied emergent care.

Reports of in-custody deaths are posted on the ICE website within two business days, and additional details are made public within 90 days.