By NAN Staff Writer
News Americas, NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Thurs. Mar. 16, 2017: A 47-year-old Caribbean immigrant who was transferred to the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency only this January has died.
Roger Rayson, who was born in Jamaica, died at the Lafayette General Hospital in New Orleans. An ICE statement says the cause of death is believed to be cardiac arrest.
Rayson, according to ICE, was transferred from the LaSalle Detention Facility to LaSalle General Hospital on Feb. 11, for nausea, vomiting and increased pain. He was admitted for dehydration and further evaluation and was later diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma.
On March 4th, LaSalle General Hospital transferred Rayson to Lafayette General Hospital and on March 13th he passed away there at 3:20 p.m. Central time. ICE says it has informed Jamaican consular officials of Rayson’s death along with his next of kin.
Rayson was arrested on Nov. 24th 2014, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Miami, for possession of cocaine. On April 24th, 2015, Rayson was convicted of importation of cocaine and sentenced to 30 months in jail by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons released Rayson to the custody of New Orleans ICE on Jan. 28, 2017.
Rayson is the fourth detainee to pass away in ICE custody in fiscal year 2017.
