El Paso Standard

Maksym Chernyak, a 44-year-old Ukrainian national held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), died at HCA Kendall Hospital in Miami on February 20 at 2:25 p.m. A hospital physician identified the preliminary cause of death as brain bleeding.

Chernyak was hospitalized after Miami Dade Fire Rescue transported him due to vomiting and seizures on February 18. He entered the U.S. as a Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee on August 24, 2024, with permission to stay until August 23, 2026. ICE encountered him on January 26 at Broward County Jail following his arrest for battery with bodily harm and placed an immigration detainer. The jail released him to ICE custody on February 2, transferring him to the Krome Service and Processing Center.

After admission to HCA Kendall Hospital, medical staff established a stroke alert due to his unresponsive state. A CT scan revealed brain bleeding, leading to intubation and intravenous medication administration in an attempt to stabilize him. Brain death protocol began on February 19 due to massive intracranial hemorrhage.

In line with ICE protocols, relevant authorities were informed of Chernyak's death, including the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. As he had no listed next of kin, his attorney was notified.

ICE follows procedures that include notifying Congress, nongovernmental organizations, and media outlets about such deaths within two business days. This information is available in the ICE.gov Newsroom. Additionally, per congressional requirements from the DHS appropriations bill of 2018, reports regarding in-custody deaths are made public within 90 days.

"ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments," stated an official release from the agency.

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