Reps. Stevens, Scholten tour Lake County ICE facility after detainee death in December

United States Representatives Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten toured the North Lake Processing Center in Lake County Tuesday, seeking answers after a detainee died at the ICE detention facility in December. The lawmakers walked through the building and spoke with detainees.

They said nearly 100 detainees requested to speak with them, but they were told those conversations could not be in private.

The facility, owned by the GEO Group, has 1,800 beds. As of January, it has an average of 1,420 people being held per day, with 1,272 classified as non-criminal.

“There are unanswered questions around Mr. Gantchev’s death and his family and loved ones and people who have been frankly impacted or touched by his life story, they deserve answers,” Representative Stevens said.

She said she is calling for a complete overhaul of ICE nationwide, starting with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

"I, along with over 150 of my colleagues, believe that she's unfit for her role, that she has failed the American public. She's unfit for office and the mismanagement that we are seeing of ICE begins with her,” Stevens said.