A 59-year-old Iranian national, Pejman Karshenas Najafabadi, died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Natchez, Mississippi. He was pronounced dead at Merit Health Hospital on March 1, 2026, after suffering cardiac arrest despite efforts by hospital staff to revive him. Karshenas had been receiving medical care since February 20.
Karshenas entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident in 1991 but later faced multiple criminal charges over several years. His record included convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of fentanyl, among other offenses such as theft and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
On September 22, 2009, he was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Nashville, Tennessee on drug-related charges and subsequently received federal probation. ICE initiated removal proceedings against him following his felony conviction in August 2014; however, officials were unable to secure travel documents for his return to Iran at that time. As a result, he was released under supervision.
In March 2025, Karshenas was again arrested for offenses including reckless endangerment and drug possession. After being convicted of possessing fentanyl, ICE lodged an immigration detainer and took him into custody in April 2025.
During his detention at facilities in Louisiana—including Winn Correctional Center and later the Louisiana ICE Processing Center—Karshenas underwent health evaluations that identified chronic conditions but no immediate life-threatening issues upon intake screenings. On February 20, 2026, ICE Health Service Corps staff assessed his ongoing medical concerns and transferred him to Riverbridge Specialty Hospital for long-term care.
According to reports from RSH staff on March 1, Karshenas appeared stable earlier that day before experiencing cardiac arrest around 6:00 p.m. Medical personnel attempted resuscitation during transport to Merit Health Hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 6:32 p.m.
ICE has stated it notifies Congress and relevant stakeholders about all deaths occurring in its custody and publishes details on its public website according to requirements set forth by the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018. These reports are available within ninety days on ICE’s Detainee Death Reporting page (https://www.ice.gov/detain/death-reporting).
The agency maintains that comprehensive medical care is provided from arrival through detention for all individuals held in its facilities (https://www.ice.gov/newsroom). This includes initial health screenings within twelve hours of arrival at each facility, full assessments within fourteen days, access to routine appointments and emergency care at any time.
“ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments,” an official statement read. “Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay… At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care.”
