A 56-year-old Chicago business owner and Bulgarian national has died while being held at a private ICE detention center in Michigan.
Nenko Gantchev was pronounced dead on Monday night at the North Lake Correctional Facility, sparking immediate calls for transparency regarding his treatment in federal custody.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), staff found Gantchev unresponsive on the floor of his cell during a routine check at approximately 9:54 p.m.
Despite CPR efforts by facility medical staff and local emergency responders, he was pronounced deceased shortly after.
A Decades-Long History in Chicago
Gantchev first arrived in the United States in 1995 on an exchange visitor visa.
He later obtained lawful permanent residence in 2005.
However, immigration officials began efforts to revoke his status following several arrests in the Chicago area, including charges for theft and DUI.
While an immigration judge ordered his removal to Bulgaria in early 2023, Gantchev remained in the U.S. until he was swept up in a recent immigration enforcement “blitz” in September 2025.
At the time of his death, he was appealing a bond denial.
Calls for Investigation
While ICE officials suspect Gantchev died of “natural causes,” the official cause of death remains under investigation.
The death occurred at a facility contracted by ICE to hold undocumented migrants, a practice that has long faced scrutiny from advocacy groups.
ICE maintains that all detainees receive comprehensive medical screenings within 12 hours of arrival.
However, Gantchev’s sudden death while his legal appeal was still pending has raised questions about the conditions at the Michigan facility.
The Bulgarian Consulate has been notified, and the body will undergo a full review as required by federal law.
