Press Releases
Statement in Support of the Family of Nebane Abienwi
Washington,
November 22, 2019
This nation has a responsibility to treat asylum seekers with dignity and respect, and families deserve closure when they lose a loved one.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) released the following statement on the death of Nebane Abienwi in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and the administrative barriers his family continues to face:
"In October, Nebane Abienwi, a Cameroon Citizen, died while in ICE custody. He was the sixth person to die while in ICE custody this year. I am deeply concerned that despite ongoing efforts, Mr. Abienwi’s family has been unable to get more information about the circumstances of his death, and that his brother has been denied a visa to identify the body and perform funeral rites. This nation has a responsibility to treat asylum seekers with dignity and respect, and families deserve closure when they lose a loved one. I urge ICE and the State Department to work together to provide Mr. Abienwi’s brother with a way to identify the body, perform funeral rites and get closure for his family." |