Parady La, a 46-year-old Cambodian national with a lengthy criminal record, died on January 9 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). La had been arrested by ICE agents on January 6 outside his residence in Upper Darby and was being held at the Federal Detention Center (FDC) in Philadelphia.
La was receiving treatment for severe drug withdrawal at the FDC when he was found unresponsive in his cell on January 7. According to officials, FDC officers administered CPR and several doses of NARCAN before calling for medical assistance. Emergency medical services transported La to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition.
Medical evaluations throughout the evening indicated limited brain function. By January 8, doctors diagnosed La with anoxic brain injury following cardiac arrest, as well as shock and multiple organ failures. He remained on life support in the hospital’s Neuro Intensive Care Unit until he was pronounced dead early on January 9.
La entered the United States as a refugee in 1981 and became a lawful permanent resident the following year. However, he lost his legal status after committing numerous crimes over two decades. His criminal history includes convictions for offenses such as assault, robbery, forgery, theft, driving under the influence, and possession of controlled substances across multiple Pennsylvania counties between 1994 and 2022.
ICE stated that official notifications were made to Congress, nongovernmental organizations, and media outlets regarding La’s death. The agency publishes information about deaths of individuals in its custody on its public website as required by congressional mandates outlined in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018. These requirements stipulate that all reports concerning deaths in ICE custody must be made public within 90 days.
“ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care,” according to an official statement from ICE.
For further details about deaths occurring while individuals are held by ICE—including official reports—information can be found through ICE’s Newsroom or its Detainee Death Reporting page.
