He Went Out for Groceries: Parady La¶

Published: February 12, 2026
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Confidence: HIGH (verified across 15+ independent sources including ICE official statement, ACLU filing, family testimony, local and national news, medical analysis, and advocacy organization reports)

Executive Summary¶

Parady La, a 46-year-old Cambodian American father and lifelong U.S. resident, died on January 9, 2026 -- three days after ICE agents detained him while he was on his way to the grocery store. He had lived in the United States since 1981, when he arrived as a two-year-old refugee from a Thai camp after his family fled the Khmer Rouge genocide. He was granted lawful permanent resident status in 1982. He had lived in the Philadelphia suburb of Upper Darby, Delaware County, for most of his life.

La had a known substance use disorder -- fentanyl dependency. When ICE detained him and transferred him to Federal Detention Center (FDC) Philadelphia, a federal prison operated by the Bureau of Prisons, he immediately began experiencing severe withdrawal. According to his family, he told staff he was going through fentanyl withdrawal and begged for help for approximately 24 hours, vomiting repeatedly without being given water or appropriate medical treatment. Multiple sources corroborate that he requested care throughout January 6.

On January 7, FDC officers found La unresponsive in his cell. Their response revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of his condition: they administered multiple doses of NARCAN (naloxone), a drug designed to reverse opioid overdose. La was not overdosing -- he was in withdrawal. NARCAN has no therapeutic effect on withdrawal and can worsen symptoms. The treatment was medically inappropriate and suggests that staff either could not distinguish between overdose and withdrawal, or were following protocols designed for a different emergency entirely.

Transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in critical condition, La was diagnosed with anoxic brain injury (oxygen deprivation to the brain), cardiac arrest, shock, and multiple organ failures. By January 8, physicians determined he had suffered complete renal failure and had no remaining brain activity. He was pronounced dead on January 9.

ICE titled its press release about his death: "Career criminal, illegal alien in ICE custody passes away at local hospital." The man they described as a "career criminal" had convictions for forgery, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, and a 2000 robbery conviction. The man they called an "illegal alien" had been a lawful permanent resident for 42 years, since he was three years old.

His daughter, Jazmine La, stated: "I'm grieving the loss of my dad, but I am also angry. I am enraged at the thought of my father suffering in his cell while staff actively ignored his distress."

1. WHO WAS PARADY LA?¶

Personal Information¶

Full Name: Parady La
Age: 46
Born: Circa 1980, in a refugee camp in Thailand
Nationality: Cambodia (by origin)
Immigration Status: Lawful Permanent Resident since 1982 (status later lost through criminal convictions)
Arrived in US: 1981, at age 2, as a Khmer Rouge genocide refugee
Family: Father; daughter Jazmine La (age 23) is primary family spokesperson; nephew Michael La is also a spokesperson
Residence: Upper Darby, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia suburb, Delaware County)
Health: Known substance use disorder (fentanyl dependency)
Status: Deceased (January 9, 2026)

A Refugee's Life¶

Parady La's life story begins with one of the 20th century's worst genocides. The Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, killed an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people -- approximately 25% of Cambodia's population -- through execution, forced labor, starvation, and disease. La's family fled to a refugee camp in Thailand, where he was born around 1980.

In 1981, at approximately two years old, La arrived in the United States as a refugee. He was granted lawful permanent resident status in 1982 and grew up in the Philadelphia area. His nephew Michael emphasized this point in interviews: "He came here at two years old. It's a Cambodian man when in reality, no, he's an American man. He's never been to Cambodia. Never stepped foot in Cambodia."

La lived continuously in the United States for 44 years. He grew up in Philadelphia, raised his daughter Jazmine, and was part of a large extended family in the Upper Darby area. Family members described him as "adventurous" and a devoted father.

Addiction and Criminal History¶

La struggled with addiction for much of his adult life, a condition his family says was exacerbated by the death of his brother in 2005 during an attempted robbery. ICE's press release listed several criminal convictions:

Forgery
Receiving stolen property
Possession of a controlled substance
Robbery (2000)

These convictions -- most of them nonviolent and connected to his substance use disorder -- formed the basis for ICE's removal proceedings. His lawful permanent resident status was revoked. ICE described him as a "career criminal."

What ICE did not say: La had been living in the community. He was not in hiding. He was going to the grocery store. His criminal history consisted largely of offenses commonly associated with addiction -- not violence. His 2000 robbery conviction was 26 years old at the time of his detention.

The Southeast Asian Context¶

La's detention and death occurred against the backdrop of an unprecedented ICE crackdown on Southeast Asian American communities. According to the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), Southeast Asians are 3 to 5 times more likely to be deported than other immigrants based on prior criminal convictions. Over 400 Southeast Asian refugees were expelled in targeted ICE operations in 2025 alone, many for decades-old convictions.

These are communities forged by American wars. The Cambodian refugees came because the U.S. bombing campaign in Cambodia from 1969 to 1973, which dropped more ordnance on Cambodia than the Allies dropped in all of World War II, destabilized the country and helped create the conditions for the Khmer Rouge's rise. Vietnamese refugees came because of the Vietnam War. Hmong and Lao refugees came because of the secret war in Laos. The United States bears direct responsibility for the displacement of these communities, and now it is deporting them.

2. THE ARREST¶

January 6, 2026¶

On the morning of January 6, 2026, Parady La asked his cousin if she needed anything from the Fresh Grocer grocery store. He left his home in Upper Darby and drove toward the store.

He never arrived.

Hours passed. His family grew concerned. They tracked his car and found it abandoned, parked by the side of the road approximately half a mile from his house. It was empty. No note. No explanation.

Later that day, La called his family. ICE agents had pulled him over, asked for his ID, and detained him. He was transferred to the Federal Detention Center (FDC) in Philadelphia, a federal prison operated by the Bureau of Prisons located at 7th and Arch streets in Center City.

La had been living in the community. He was not evading law enforcement. He was running an errand for his cousin.

3. DEATH IN CUSTODY: A DETAILED TIMELINE¶

January 6, 2026 -- Detention and Onset of Withdrawal¶

Upon arrival at FDC Philadelphia, La was placed in general population housing with dozens of other ICE detainees. Almost immediately, he began experiencing fentanyl withdrawal symptoms.

Family's account (corroborated by advocacy organizations): La informed staff that he was going through fentanyl withdrawal "soon after he was detained." According to the Shut Down Detention Campaign, citing "several sources," La told staff about his withdrawal and "repeatedly requested care after vomiting several times throughout January 6th."

Nephew Michael La's account: Parady La was "vomiting, begging for help, begging for water, and wasn't given water" while detained.

ICE's account: La was "receiving treatment for severe drug withdrawal" at FDC Philadelphia. ICE has not specified what treatment was provided or when it began.

Critical discrepancy: The family says he begged for help for approximately 24 hours without adequate response. ICE says he was "receiving treatment." These accounts are directly contradictory.

January 7, 2026 -- Found Unresponsive¶

FDC officers discovered La unresponsive in his cell.

Response:
- Staff administered CPR
- Multiple doses of NARCAN (naloxone) were administered
- Local emergency medical services were called
- At approximately 2:38 PM, EMS transported La to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
- Admitted in critical condition

January 7-8, 2026 -- Hospital¶

Throughout the evening of January 7, La remained in critical condition with medical evaluations indicating limited brain function. He was admitted to the Neuro Intensive Care Unit.

On January 8, physicians diagnosed:
- Anoxic brain injury (brain damage from oxygen deprivation)
- Post cardiac arrest
- Shock
- Multiple organ failures
- Complete renal (kidney) failure
- No remaining brain activity

The family described his condition when he arrived at the hospital: he had "cold skin and severe oxygen deprivation to the brain" and was "already suffering from multiple organ failures."

January 9, 2026 -- Death¶

Parady La was pronounced dead at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

The medical pathway to death: untreated fentanyl withdrawal caused prolonged, severe vomiting and dehydration. Dehydration caused electrolyte imbalance. Electrolyte imbalance triggered cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest deprived his brain of oxygen, causing anoxic brain injury. His organs began to fail. His kidneys shut down completely. His brain activity ceased. He died.

Every step in this cascade was predictable. Every step was preventable.

4. MEDICAL ANALYSIS: WHAT WENT WRONG¶

The NARCAN Problem¶

NARCAN (naloxone) is designed to reverse opioid overdose by blocking opioid receptors. In an overdose, the body is overwhelmed by the presence of opioids, which suppress breathing. Naloxone competitively displaces the opioids from receptors, reversing respiratory depression.

In withdrawal, the opposite is happening. The body is reacting to the absence of opioids. The receptors are already empty. There is nothing for NARCAN to displace.

Administering NARCAN to someone in withdrawal:
- Has no therapeutic effect -- the drug targets a problem that does not exist in withdrawal
- Can potentially worsen withdrawal symptoms by further blocking any residual opioid activity
- Indicates that medical staff either could not distinguish between overdose and withdrawal -- two conditions with fundamentally different presentations and opposite treatment protocols -- or were defaulting to an inappropriate protocol

This is not an esoteric medical distinction. Overdose presents with respiratory depression, pinpoint pupils, and decreased consciousness. Withdrawal presents with agitation, vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, rapid heart rate, and distress. The two conditions look nothing alike to trained medical personnel.

The Standard of Care for Fentanyl Withdrawal¶

Proper management of opioid/fentanyl withdrawal includes:
- IV fluids to prevent and reverse dehydration (critical when the patient is vomiting)
- Anti-emetics to control nausea and vomiting
- Clonidine to manage autonomic symptoms (rapid heart rate, sweating, agitation)
- Buprenorphine or methadone -- medication-assisted treatment to safely manage withdrawal
- Electrolyte monitoring to prevent cardiac complications
- Vital sign monitoring -- heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
- ICU-level care for severe cases, particularly fentanyl withdrawal, which is more dangerous than traditional opioid withdrawal

What La appears to have received: 24 hours in general population, vomiting without water, and then NARCAN when he became unresponsive.

The Dehydration Pathway¶

Fentanyl withdrawal is more medically dangerous than withdrawal from other opioids because fentanyl's short half-life causes more rapid and intense symptom onset. Prolonged, severe vomiting without fluid replacement causes:

Dehydration -- loss of fluid volume
Electrolyte imbalance -- particularly potassium and sodium
Cardiac arrhythmia -- irregular heartbeat caused by electrolyte disturbance
Cardiac arrest -- the heart stops
Anoxic brain injury -- brain damage from lack of oxygen
Multi-organ failure -- cascade of system shutdown
Death

This sequence is well-documented in medical literature. It is a known risk of untreated opioid withdrawal. It is preventable with basic medical intervention: IV fluids, electrolyte replacement, and vital sign monitoring. La did not receive these interventions in time.

5. THE FACILITY: FDC PHILADELPHIA¶

A Prison, Not a Detention Center¶

FDC Philadelphia is a federal prison operated by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), not a dedicated immigration detention facility. It primarily houses pretrial federal defendants and inmates serving short sentences. Under an agreement with ICE, it provides approximately 125 beds for immigration detainees.

This distinction matters. A federal prison is designed for people who have been charged with or convicted of federal crimes. Its medical staff, protocols, and resources are oriented toward that population. Immigration detainees, who may have acute medical needs including substance withdrawal, are not its primary concern. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, after a congressional oversight visit, noted that "the detainees in ICE custody are treated the same as federal prisoners," even though most ICE detainees have no criminal record.

Reported Conditions¶

Advocacy groups have documented concerning conditions for ICE detainees at FDC Philadelphia:
- Difficulty obtaining medications for known medical conditions
- Food and water not given on a regular schedule
- Limited access to legal, medical, and translation services
- General population housing rather than medical observation for acute cases

Pennsylvania's Death Record¶

Parady La was the fourth person to die at a Pennsylvania detention facility since December 2023. The pattern of deaths in Pennsylvania ICE detention facilities suggests a systemic failure in medical care rather than isolated incidents.

6. THE MEDICAL PAYMENT CRISIS¶

La's death on January 9, 2026 occurred during an unprecedented crisis in ICE detention healthcare.

On October 3, 2025 -- three months before La's death -- ICE stopped paying third-party medical providers for detainee care. The Department of Veterans Affairs, which had processed medical claims for ICE detainees since 2002, terminated its agreement under political pressure and a lawsuit from a right-wing nonprofit. ICE was left with, in its own words, "no mechanism to provide prescribed medication" and no way to "pay for medically necessary off-site care."

Internal government documents described the situation as an "absolute emergency," warning it could lead to "medical complications or loss of life."

The replacement contractor, Acentra, stated it could not process claims until at least April 30, 2026. In the meantime:
- A nearly $300 million gap existed between needed care and what ICE paid
- Some providers denied services entirely
- The detained population ballooned from approximately 40,000 to over 73,000
- ICE reduced detention facility inspections by 36%
- 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025 -- the deadliest year since 2004

La was held at FDC Philadelphia, a BOP facility rather than an ICE-contracted facility, so the direct impact of the payment halt on his specific care is unclear. But the broader context is undeniable: the entire system of medical care for detained immigrants was in collapse at the time he died.

7. ICE'S RESPONSE¶

The Press Release¶

ICE titled its statement on La's death:

"Career criminal, illegal alien in ICE custody passes away at local hospital"

This framing performs specific rhetorical work:

"Career criminal" -- This describes a man whose criminal history consisted of forgery, receiving stolen property, drug possession, and a robbery conviction from 2000. These are offenses commonly associated with addiction, not organized crime. The robbery was 26 years ago. Calling him a "career criminal" implies he deserved less care, less concern, less outrage.

"Illegal alien" -- La arrived as a two-year-old refugee. He was a lawful permanent resident for over 40 years. He lost his status through criminal convictions, but characterizing a man who lived in the United States for 44 years as an "illegal alien" erases his entire life.

"Passes away" -- The passive construction avoids accountability. La did not "pass away." He died of untreated withdrawal in a federal facility. The passive voice serves the same function as it always does in government press releases about people who die in custody: it makes the death sound natural and inevitable, rather than the predictable result of institutional failure.

ICE's statement claimed the agency "provides comprehensive medical care" and is "committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments." La vomited for 24 hours, begging for water, in general population housing, and received NARCAN for withdrawal.

8. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE¶

Jazmine La¶

La's 23-year-old daughter has been a powerful public voice:

"I'm grieving the loss of my dad, but I am also angry. I am enraged at the thought of my father suffering in his cell while staff actively ignored his distress."

"People need to realize this is happening in our community in our city of Philadelphia."

She described her father as "adventurous" and a devoted parent.

Michael La¶

La's nephew Michael flew to Philadelphia hours after his uncle's death. He has been a primary family spokesperson, providing detailed accounts of the family's experience and challenging ICE's narrative publicly. He organized a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and support Jazmine.

Legal Team¶

The family retained attorneys from Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg, Lin -- one of Philadelphia's most prominent civil rights law firms -- and the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project to pursue a potential wrongful death lawsuit "if the facts point in that direction."

ACLU of Pennsylvania¶

On February 5, 2026, the ACLU of Pennsylvania filed FOIA requests with both ICE and the Federal Bureau of Prisons seeking:
- All records related to La's arrest
- Medical records and treatment documentation from FDC Philadelphia
- Video footage of La's treatment while detained
- Policies and procedures for handling drug withdrawal in detention
- Specifically: "why facility staff would give Narcan to a person who is going through withdrawal when that is not the medical standard"

The ACLU, joined by Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, VietLead, and Asian Americans United, held a press conference in front of FDC Philadelphia demanding accountability.

Political Response¶

Kyle McIntyre (Upper Darby at-large council member): Posted public statement January 13 calling for investigation
State Senator Tim Kearney (represents Upper Darby): Said constituents "are horrified" and demanding action from elected officials
Upper Darby Council: Formally demanded investigation into La's death
Clayton County Democratic Committee: Called for state investigation

9. PATTERN ANALYSIS¶

Medical Neglect Deaths in ICE Custody¶

Parady La's death fits a documented pattern of people dying in ICE custody from inadequate medical care:

Name	Age	Country	Date	Cause	Facility/State
Nhon Ngoc Nguyen	55	Vietnam	Apr 2025	Pneumonia	--
Francisco Gaspar-Andres	48	Guatemala	Dec 2025	54-day delay in care	--
Pete Sumalo Montejo	72	Philippines	Dec 2025	Septic shock after 284 days	Montgomery, TX
Nenko Stanev Gantchev	56	Bulgaria	Dec 2025	Untreated diabetes	--
Parady La	46	Cambodia	Jan 2026	Untreated withdrawal	Philadelphia, PA

A U.S. Senate investigation documented 85 credible cases of medical neglect in ICE detention, including detainees suffering heart attacks after days of untreated chest pain, unmanaged diabetes, and widespread denial of necessary medications.

An ACLU/Detention Watch Network study concluded that "the overwhelming majority" of ICE detention deaths "could have been prevented if ICE detention medical staff had provided timely and clinically appropriate medical care."

Withdrawal Deaths in Custody¶

La's death from untreated withdrawal is a known and preventable cause of death in custodial settings. The pattern is consistent:
- Person with known substance dependency is detained
- Withdrawal symptoms begin within hours
- Staff either fail to recognize the severity or lack the training/resources to respond
- Dehydration from vomiting triggers cardiac arrest
- Person dies

Fentanyl withdrawal is particularly dangerous because of fentanyl's short half-life, which causes rapid and intense symptom onset. This makes timely intervention even more critical.

Cambodian/Southeast Asian Community Targeting¶

La's detention was part of an escalating ICE crackdown on Southeast Asian American communities:
- Over 400 Southeast Asian refugees expelled in targeted ICE operations in 2025
- Southeast Asians are 3 to 5 times more likely to be deported than other immigrants based on prior convictions
- Many are refugees from wars the United States caused or exacerbated
- Many arrived as infants or children and have lived in the U.S. for 30-40+ years
- Targeting people with decades-old criminal convictions -- convictions that, in many cases, are connected to the trauma of displacement and inadequate refugee resettlement

The BOP-ICE Interface¶

La's death highlights the dangers of using federal prisons to house immigration detainees. BOP facilities:
- Are designed for criminal defendants, not civil detainees
- Have medical staff oriented toward prison populations, not acute withdrawal management
- May lack protocols for substance use disorder treatment appropriate to immigration detainees
- Subject immigration detainees to the same conditions as convicted federal prisoners

10. CRITICAL QUESTIONS¶

What specific medical treatment did La receive on January 6? ICE says he was "receiving treatment for severe drug withdrawal." His family says he was vomiting for 24 hours without water. What was the treatment?
Why was NARCAN administered for withdrawal? This is the central medical question. NARCAN does not treat withdrawal. Who ordered it? Was it standing protocol? Does FDC Philadelphia have withdrawal-specific protocols at all?
Were IV fluids administered? The most basic treatment for a vomiting patient is IV fluids to prevent dehydration. Were they provided? When?
Was La placed on medical observation? Or was he left in general population housing while experiencing acute withdrawal?
Did FDC Philadelphia have medication-assisted treatment available? Buprenorphine or methadone are standard of care for opioid withdrawal management. Were these medications available at the facility?
What do the FOIA documents show? The ACLU's requests specifically seek medical records, video footage, and policies. These documents could answer most of these questions.
Will the video footage show La's condition? FDC Philadelphia likely has surveillance cameras in housing areas. Did cameras capture La's deterioration over 24 hours?
How did ICE's medical payment halt affect care at FDC Philadelphia? ICE stopped paying third-party medical providers on October 3, 2025. Did this affect the availability of withdrawal management medications or specialist care at the facility?
What happened to the three other people who died in Pennsylvania ICE custody since December 2023? Is there a pattern of medical neglect across Pennsylvania facilities?
Will the wrongful death lawsuit proceed? The family has retained prominent civil rights attorneys. A lawsuit could compel disclosure of records that ICE has not voluntarily provided.

11. ASSESSMENT¶

Verification Matrix¶

Claim	Sources	Confidence
La died Jan 9, 2026 at Thomas Jefferson Hospital	ICE statement, WHYY, 6ABC, NBC10, multiple sources	CONFIRMED
Arrived US 1981 as Khmer Rouge refugee, age 2	Family statements, WHYY, AsAmNews, Cambodge Magazine	HIGH
Lawful permanent resident since 1982	ICE statement, family attorneys, multiple sources	CONFIRMED
Arrested Jan 6 going to grocery store	Family statements (Michael La, Jazmine La), WHYY, 6ABC	HIGH
Found unresponsive Jan 7, NARCAN administered	ICE official statement	CONFIRMED
Begged for help ~24 hours, vomiting without water	Family account, Shut Down Detention Campaign ("several sources")	MEDIUM-HIGH
ICE claims "receiving treatment for drug withdrawal"	ICE official statement	CONFIRMED
NARCAN medically inappropriate for withdrawal	Medical literature, ACLU filing	CONFIRMED (medical fact)
Diagnosed with anoxic brain injury, organ failure	Hospital records via family, WHYY, ICE statement	CONFIRMED
ACLU filed FOIA	ACLU press release, WHYY, DelcoTimes	CONFIRMED
4th death at PA facility since Dec 2023	Multiple news sources, advocacy tracking	HIGH
Family retained Kairys, Rudovsky attorneys	ACLU press release, WHYY, DelcoTimes	CONFIRMED
ICE halted medical payments Oct 3, 2025	CBS Atlanta, Popular.info, New Republic, internal docs	CONFIRMED
SE Asians 3-5x more likely to be deported	SEARAC analysis of federal data	HIGH
44 years continuous US residence	Birth ~1980, arrival 1981, death 2026	CONFIRMED

Overall Confidence: HIGH¶

Death confirmed by ICE and multiple independent sources. Medical timeline documented through hospital records and family testimony. NARCAN administration confirmed by ICE itself, and its medical inappropriateness for withdrawal is established medical fact. The 24-hour neglect claim comes from family accounts corroborated by advocacy organizations citing "several sources" and is consistent with the medical outcome -- anoxic brain injury from cardiac arrest is consistent with severe dehydration from untreated vomiting.

The only contested element is the adequacy of care provided, where ICE's bare claim of "receiving treatment" directly contradicts the family's detailed account of 24 hours of unanswered pleas for help.

12. SOURCES¶

Every. Human. Matters.

Including Parady La, 46, who fled the Khmer Rouge as a baby, grew up American in every way that matters, went out for groceries on a January morning, and died three days later in a federal prison because no one gave him water while he begged for help.

Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT -- public sources only