BULGARIAN FROM CHICAGO DIES IN IMMIGRATION CUSTODY (ICE): His Wife Demands an Urgent Investigation: “He Was Ill, and They Treated Him Like an Animal!” (PHOTO)

Bulgarian national Nenko Ganchev (56), who had lived in Chicago for 30 years and was arrested during the recent autumn immigration enforcement operation targeting undocumented immigrants (“Midway blitz”), has died while in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a private prison in Michigan.

Ganchev died at the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, which has a contract with ICE to house undocumented immigrants.

An online statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Ganchev’s death is suspected to have occurred from “natural causes,” but that the “official cause of death is still under investigation.”

However, Ganchev’s family and friends say questions are mounting regarding his deteriorating health over the past several months in custody, as well as what exactly happened on the day of his death.

“I want people to know what happened to him. A man who lived here for 30 years, worked hard, paid taxes — and they treated him like an animal,” said Ganchev’s wife, a U.S. citizen who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation by federal authorities.

“They were so rough with him… They treated him as if he were a murderer.”

Calls for accountability

Chicago Congresswoman Delia Ramirez called for an “urgent, transparent investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Ganchev’s death, including an investigation into reports from other detainees who claim he ‘asked for medical help but did not receive it in time.’”

“We are aware that there have been at least 30 deaths in ICE detention centers this year, making 2025 the deadliest year for immigrants in custody,” Ramirez said in an online statement.

THIS IS WHERE HE DIED: The private prison in Michigan used by ICE agents to house detainees

Ganchev was one of hundreds of people whom a federal judge in Chicago ordered released on bond last month, after his warrantless arrest was deemed a potential violation of the “Castañon Nava” consent decree. In court filings, federal officials stated that Ganchev’s release was not considered a high risk to public safety.

His wife said that order initially gave them hope he would be released and able to continue medical treatment, as he was diabetic. However, when the appellate court blocked the order, Nenko faced a difficult choice: to agree to voluntary return to Bulgaria or remain in detention in hopes that bond would eventually be granted.

Conditions in detention

The North Lake facility where Ganchev was held is owned by GEO Group, one of the largest private prison companies in the country.

Ganchev’s wife and friends claim he complained for months about worsening health. He suffered from type 2 diabetes and said his diet was not adjusted to his condition.

“There was no special diet. The food they were given was not adequate to maintain blood sugar levels,” said family friend Ana.

His wife realized something was wrong on Monday evening when his regular phone call did not come. The following morning, the Bulgarian embassy informed her that Nenko had died.

ICE said in a statement that Ganchev was found unconscious on the floor of his cell during a routine check, after which resuscitation was attempted but unsuccessful.

Life in Chicago

Ganchev arrived in Chicago 30 years ago on a student visa. Since 2008, he owned a transportation company, “J&D Boys.” He married in 2017 and was in the process of applying for a green card.

He was arrested on September 23, just as he arrived for an interview related to that application at the Chicago immigration office.

Ironically, the day his wife was notified of his death — December 16 — was their eighth wedding anniversary.

Immigrant rights advocates emphasize that this is a record number of deaths in ICE custody and that it points to a systemic problem of medical neglect.