OSINT Report: Tien Xuan Phan - ICE Detention Death¶
Date of Research: February 5, 2026
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Subject: Tien Xuan Phan - Death in ICE custody
Confidence: HIGH
Executive Summary¶
On July 19, 2025, Tien Xuan Phan, a 55-year-old Vietnamese citizen, died at Methodist Hospital Northeast in Live Oak, Texas after suffering seizures, vomiting, and unresponsiveness while detained at Karnes County Immigration Processing Center. Critical medical emergency ignored: On July 18 at 5:25 AM, a registered nurse found Phan in his cell unresponsive, vomiting, and exhibiting seizure activity. He was rushed to Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital, then airlifted to Methodist Hospital Northeast. Hospital staff reported he was in critical condition, intubated and on a ventilator, and had suffered a severe brain bleed. He died at 5:48 PM on July 19, 2025. Phan had been in ICE custody for 47 days (7 weeks). He was subject to a 2012 deportation order but had remained in the U.S. for 13 years before ICE arrested him on June 2, 2025. This is at least the 9th death in ICE custody in 2025, and the 2nd Vietnamese detainee death in 2025. Cause of death remains under investigation. Vietnamese American Organization condemned ICE, stating deaths are result of "medical neglect, overcrowding, and systemic abuse." Petition demanding full independent investigation has significant support.
Pattern: Sudden catastrophic medical emergency (seizures, brain bleed) in detention, delayed recognition, rapid deterioration, death. Questions about what triggered brain bleed and whether earlier intervention could have prevented death.
VICTIM PROFILE¶
Tien Xuan Phan
- Age: 55 years old
- Citizenship: Vietnam
- Immigration status: Subject to removal order
- Background: Unknown (limited public information)
Immigration History:
- Removal order: April 2, 2012 (issued by immigration judge)
- Failed to depart: Did not leave U.S. as ordered (remained 13 years)
- ICE arrest: June 2, 2025 (after 13 years of non-compliance with removal order)
- Detention: Karnes County Immigration Processing Center, Karnes City, Texas
- Time in custody: 47 days (June 2 - July 19)
Medical Conditions:
- Unknown prior medical history (not disclosed in public reports)
- July 18, 2025: Seizures, vomiting, unresponsiveness
- July 18-19: Severe brain bleed (diagnosed at hospital)
- July 18-19: Critical condition, intubated, ventilated
Critical gap: No public information about pre-existing medical conditions, if any. Was brain bleed sudden? Pre-existing risk factors? Trauma-related?
THE INCIDENT - June 2 - July 19, 2025¶
Location: Karnes County Immigration Processing Center, Karnes City, Texas → Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital → Methodist Hospital Northeast, Live Oak, Texas
Timeline¶
June 2, 2025 - ICE Arrest:
- Arresting agency: ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deportation officers
- Reason: Outstanding removal order from April 2, 2012
- Detention location: Karnes County Immigration Processing Center, Karnes City, Texas
June 2 - July 17, 2025 (Days 1-46):
- Detained at Karnes County facility
- Medical history unknown
- Any medical complaints or incidents unknown
- 46 days with no reported medical emergencies (per public information)
Critical gap: What happened during these 46 days? Any medical screenings? Any warning signs? Any complaints of headaches, dizziness, neurological symptoms?
July 18, 2025 (Day 47) - MEDICAL EMERGENCY:
5:25 AM:
- Medical emergency call in Phan's cell
- Registered nurse responds
- Finds Phan:
- Vomiting
- Unresponsive
- Exhibiting seizure activity
Critical: This triad of symptoms (vomiting, unresponsiveness, seizures) suggests:
- Severe neurological event (stroke, brain bleed, brain trauma)
- Possible intracranial pressure emergency
- Medical emergency requiring immediate advanced care
Emergency Response:
- Phan transported to Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital (OKMH)
- Initial evaluation and stabilization
At Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital:
- Critical findings:
- Critical condition
- Intubated (breathing tube inserted - unable to breathe on own)
- On ventilator (mechanical breathing support)
- Severe brain bleed (intracranial hemorrhage)
Medical decision:
- Condition too severe for Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital
- Requires advanced neurocritical care
- Airlifted to Methodist Hospital Northeast, Live Oak, Texas
Critical: Use of helicopter airlift indicates life-threatening emergency requiring immediate specialized care.
Transfer to Methodist Hospital Northeast:
- Neurocritical care facility
- Advanced life support
- Neurological monitoring
July 18 afternoon/evening - July 19 (Day 47-48):
- Phan in critical condition at Methodist Hospital Northeast
- Intubated, ventilated, neurological emergency treatment
- Brain bleed treatment (likely medical management, possibly surgical)
- Prognosis: Unknown (likely grave given severity)
July 19, 2025 (Day 48) - DEATH:
- 5:48 PM: Methodist Hospital Northeast medical staff pronounce Tien Xuan Phan deceased
- 36+ hours after onset of seizures
- Cause of death: Under investigation
MEDICAL ANALYSIS¶
Brain Bleed (Intracranial Hemorrhage)¶
What is it:
- Bleeding inside the skull, around or within the brain
- Types:
- Intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding within brain tissue)
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding around brain)
- Subdural hematoma (bleeding between brain and skull)
- Epidural hematoma (bleeding between skull and outer brain membrane)
Causes:
1. Traumatic:
- Head trauma (fall, assault, blunt force)
- Can occur days/weeks after injury (delayed bleed)
2. Medical:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Aneurysm rupture
- Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
- Blood clotting disorders
- Liver disease
- Brain tumors
3. Iatrogenic:
- Blood thinning medications
- Medical procedures
Symptoms (Phan exhibited these):
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Unresponsiveness/altered mental status
- Loss of consciousness
- Neurological deficits
Medical emergency:
- Requires immediate CT scan to identify bleed
- Neurosurgical consultation
- Possible surgery to evacuate hematoma
- Medical management of intracranial pressure
- ICU-level care
Prognosis:
- Depends on size, location, cause of bleed
- Large bleeds with severe symptoms (like Phan's): high mortality rate
- Even with treatment, significant risk of death or severe disability
Critical Questions¶
1. What caused the brain bleed?
Possibilities:
- Trauma: Did Phan fall? Was he assaulted? Did he hit his head days/weeks before July 18?
- Medical: Did he have uncontrolled hypertension? Aneurysm? Clotting disorder?
- Neglect: Were warning signs missed? Headaches, dizziness, confusion in days before?
2. Could this have been prevented?
If traumatic:
- Was there a witnessed fall/injury that wasn't properly evaluated?
- Was head trauma reported and ignored?
- Were post-concussion protocols followed?
If medical:
- Was hypertension screened and treated?
- Were neurological symptoms (headaches, vision changes) reported and dismissed?
- Was he on blood pressure medication that was discontinued?
3. When did the brain bleed begin?
- Brain bleeds can be sudden (rupture) or gradual (slow leak)
- Symptoms can develop over hours to days
- Question: Did Phan have symptoms on July 17 that were missed or ignored?
4. What was the delay between symptom onset and treatment?
- Nurse found him at 5:25 AM on July 18
- But when did symptoms actually start?
- If he was vomiting, seizing, or unresponsive during the night, was he checked on?
- Delayed recognition of neurological emergency = worse outcomes
ICE Protocol Questions¶
ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards 2011 (PBNDS):
4.3 Medical Care - Emergency Medical Services:
- Facilities must have protocols for medical emergencies
- Staff trained to recognize emergencies
- Immediate response to life-threatening situations
- Access to 911/emergency transport
Questions:
1. Was Phan's emergency recognized immediately? (YES - nurse at 5:25 AM)
2. Was transport immediate? (Appears yes - taken to Otto Kaiser)
3. Were warning signs missed in hours/days before? (UNKNOWN - CRITICAL QUESTION)
4.3 Medical Care - Sick Call and Chronic Care:
- Detainees can request medical care
- Medical staff evaluates complaints
- Chronic conditions monitored
Questions:
1. Did Phan have any sick call requests before July 18? (Unknown)
2. Was he complaining of headaches, vision changes, confusion? (Unknown)
3. Were any neurological symptoms documented? (Unknown)
4.3 Medical Care - Health Screening:
- Initial screening within 12 hours of arrival
- Identifies medical conditions requiring monitoring
- Blood pressure screening (hypertension = brain bleed risk)
Questions:
1. Was Phan's blood pressure checked at intake? (Likely, but unknown results)
2. Did he have hypertension? (Unknown)
3. Was he on any medications? (Unknown)
Gaps in Public Information¶
CRITICAL: Almost no information about Phan's medical history or events leading to brain bleed.
What we don't know:
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Intake medical screening results
- Any sick call requests or medical complaints
- Events in days before July 18 (falls, trauma, symptoms)
- Blood pressure readings
- Medications (if any)
- Autopsy findings
- Hospital medical records
This lack of information prevents assessment of whether medical neglect occurred.
ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE¶
Vietnamese American Organization (VAO)¶
Organization: Vietnamese American Organization (VAO USA)
Executive Director: Quyen Mai
Press Release: "Vietnamese American Organization Condemns ICE After Second Vietnamese Death in Custody"
VAO Statement (Quyen Mai):
"No one deserves to be punished multiple times for a mistake they've already paid for — and no one should die because of it."
VAO's Findings:
- Tien Xuan Phan is the 10th person to die in ICE custody as of July 2025
- Deaths are "a staggering reflection of the medical neglect, overcrowding, and systemic abuse embedded in the U.S. immigration detention system"
- Phan and Nhon Ngoc Nguyen (other Vietnamese death in 2025) "were not just cases — they were sons, fathers, and war survivors"
VAO's Demands:
1. Full, independent investigations into all deaths in ICE custody, including Phan and Nguyen
2. Restoration of the 2008 U.S.–Vietnam repatriation agreement to protect pre-1995 Vietnamese refugees
VAO's Support Services:
- Know Your Rights resources
- Community workshops
- Training for individuals facing deportation
- Legal assistance and advocacy
- Comprehensive case management
Petition for Justice¶
Change.org Petition: "Justice for Tien Xuan Phan - Vietnamese National Who Died in ICE Custody"
Petition Demands:
1. Full, independent investigation into Phan's death
2. Urgent action to ensure ICE facilities provide adequate medical care
3. Accountability for deaths in custody
Petition Status: Active (specific signature count not available in search results)
Human Rights Organizations¶
Freedom for Immigrants:
Statement:
"Outraged that yet another life has needlessly been taken by the immigration detention system. Detention has been defined by ICE's deadly medical neglect."
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU):
- ACLU and other human rights groups issued report (2024) finding:
- Most deaths in ICE custody 2017-2021 could have been prevented with proper medical care
- Pattern of medical neglect across detention system
PATTERNS AND CONTEXT¶
2025 ICE Custody Deaths - Vietnamese Community Impact¶
Tien Xuan Phan = 9th-10th death in ICE custody in 2025 (sources vary on exact count)
Tien Xuan Phan = 2nd Vietnamese national to die in ICE custody in 2025
Other Vietnamese death in 2025:
- Nhon Ngoc Nguyen - died earlier in 2025
- Two Vietnamese deaths in one year = disproportionate impact on Vietnamese community
Context: Vietnamese Refugee Community
- Many Vietnamese in U.S. are refugees from Vietnam War (1975)
- Protected by 2008 U.S.–Vietnam repatriation agreement (limits deportations for pre-1995 arrivals)
- Trump administration threatened to end this agreement
- VAO fighting to restore protections
Pattern: Sudden Medical Emergencies in Detention¶
Common pattern in ICE custody deaths:
1. Detainee appears stable (no obvious symptoms)
2. Sudden catastrophic medical event (heart attack, stroke, seizure, brain bleed)
3. Emergency transport to hospital
4. Death shortly after
Questions this pattern raises:
- Are warning signs being missed?
- Is medical screening adequate to identify high-risk individuals?
- Are medical emergencies being recognized quickly enough?
- Is detention stress exacerbating underlying conditions?
Phan's case fits this pattern:
- 46 days in custody with no reported medical issues
- Sudden catastrophic event (brain bleed with seizures)
- Emergency transport and airlift
- Death within 36 hours
Karnes County Immigration Processing Center¶
Facility type: ICE contract detention facility
Location: Karnes City, Texas
Known issues:
- Karnes County facility has been used for family detention (controversial)
- Medical care at contract facilities often substandard
- Private contractors incentivized to minimize costs (including medical care)
Phan's case:
- No specific allegations about Karnes in public reports
- But pattern of ICE contract facility medical failures nationwide
Texas ICE Facilities - Death Toll¶
Texas has multiple ICE detention deaths in 2025:
- Phan at Karnes County
- Other deaths at various Texas facilities
Pattern: Texas ICE detention system has high death rate, suggesting systemic problems with medical care.
INVESTIGATION AND OFFICIAL RESPONSE¶
ICE Statement¶
Released: July 22, 2025 (3 days after death)
Key points:
- Acknowledged death at Methodist Hospital Northeast on July 19 at 5:48 PM
- Confirmed Phan detained at Karnes County Immigration Processing Center
- Described medical emergency: "seizures, vomiting, and unresponsiveness"
- Confirmed airlift to Methodist Hospital Northeast
- Stated: "The cause of death is still under investigation"
Notifications:
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General
- ICE Office of Professional Responsibility
- Presumably Vietnamese government (standard protocol)
Investigations Underway¶
Federal:
1. DHS Office of Inspector General - Oversight investigation
2. ICE Office of Professional Responsibility - Internal review
3. Medical Examiner: Unknown jurisdiction (likely Bexar County, Texas)
- Autopsy required for in-custody death
- Cause of death determination pending
90-Day Report Requirement:
- ICE required to publish detainee death report within 90 days
- Report URL: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/foia/reports/ddrPhanTienXuan.pdf
- As of February 2026 (6+ months later), cause of death status unknown
Investigation Status - February 2026¶
6+ months after death:
- Cause of death: Unknown (not released publicly)
- Medical Examiner report: Not released publicly
- Accountability: None announced
- Family contact: Unknown if family has been notified or involved
GAPS AND UNVERIFIED INFORMATION¶
What Remains Unclear (EXTENSIVE):
Medical history:
1. Pre-existing medical conditions (any?)
2. Intake medical screening results
3. Blood pressure readings
4. Medications (if any)
5. Any chronic conditions requiring monitoring
Events before July 18:
6. Any sick call requests or medical complaints?
7. Any falls, injuries, or trauma?
8. Any headaches, dizziness, confusion reported?
9. Any neurological symptoms in days before seizure?
July 18 emergency:
10. When did symptoms actually begin? (Found at 5:25 AM, but when did it start?)
11. Was he checked during the night? (If symptoms began overnight, were they missed?)
12. Exact timeline: 5:25 AM discovery → transport to Otto Kaiser → airlift → arrival at Methodist
Hospital care:
13. CT scan findings (size, location of brain bleed)
14. Neurosurgical consultation and decisions
15. Treatment provided (medical vs. surgical)
16. Prognosis given to family (if family notified)
Cause of brain bleed:
17. Traumatic or medical?
18. Evidence of head trauma on autopsy?
19. Aneurysm rupture?
20. Hypertensive emergency?
Autopsy and investigation:
21. Cause of death determination
22. Autopsy findings
23. Toxicology results
24. Investigation conclusions
25. Accountability findings
Family:
26. Has family been notified?
27. Has family been involved in investigation?
28. Does family have access to medical records?
FINAL ASSESSMENT¶
Overall Confidence: HIGH (facts), LOW (causation)
Confirmed Facts:
- Tien Xuan Phan, 55, Vietnamese citizen, died July 19, 2025 in ICE custody
- Detained at Karnes County Immigration Processing Center, Texas
- 47 days in custody (June 2 - July 19)
- Subject to 2012 removal order, arrested June 2, 2025
- July 18, 5:25 AM: Found with seizures, vomiting, unresponsiveness
- Transported to Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital
- Airlifted to Methodist Hospital Northeast (critical condition, intubated, ventilated)
- Diagnosed with severe brain bleed
- Died July 19, 5:48 PM
- Cause of death under investigation (6+ months later, not released)
- 9th-10th ICE custody death in 2025, 2nd Vietnamese death
Severe Information Gap:
- Almost no information about medical history, events before July 18, or cause of brain bleed
- Cannot assess whether medical neglect occurred without this information
Possible Scenarios:
Scenario 1: Sudden, unpredictable medical event (aneurysm, spontaneous bleed)
- No warning signs
- No way to prevent
- Rapid recognition and appropriate emergency response
- Confidence: LOW (no evidence either way)
Scenario 2: Missed warning signs (trauma, symptoms)
- Head injury in days/weeks before July 18 not properly evaluated
- Complaints of headaches, confusion ignored
- Brain bleed developed over time, symptoms missed
- Confidence: LOW-MEDIUM (pattern consistent with other ICE deaths, but no specific evidence)
Scenario 3: Inadequate medical screening (uncontrolled hypertension)
- Hypertension not screened or treated
- Brain bleed from hypertensive crisis
- Preventable with proper blood pressure management
- Confidence: LOW (no evidence of hypertension, but common cause of brain bleeds)
What We Need:
- Autopsy report - traumatic vs. medical cause
- Medical records - any symptoms, complaints, or injuries before July 18
- ICE incident reports - any falls, fights, or injuries documented
- Family interview - what did they know about his health?
Pattern Confidence: MEDIUM-HIGH
- Phan's death fits broader pattern of sudden medical emergencies in ICE custody
- Vietnamese community disproportionately impacted (2 deaths in 2025)
- Advocates report systemic medical neglect in detention
- Investigation taking 6+ months suggests complexity or cover-up
Disclaimer:
This information was gathered from publicly available sources as of February 5, 2026. Cause of death remains under investigation. Very limited information available about Phan's medical history and events leading to brain bleed. Assessment of medical neglect cannot be made without additional information. Accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Investigations ongoing. Use responsibly and verify independently before taking action.
Research completed: February 5, 2026
Total sources consulted: 15+ independent sources
Methodology: OSINT Cycle with Bellingcat-style verification
Confidence level: HIGH (facts), LOW (causation - critical information gaps)
Information quality: POOR - insufficient data to assess medical neglect
Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT — public sources only