Chicago Transportation Business Owner Dies in ICE Custody; Calls for a Transparent Investigation Intensify

By: SafetyLane Editorial Staff

“Yes, we are a publication focused on transportation and regulation. But the death of a transportation company owner in ICE custody unquestionably falls within our scope. This is not only about immigration policy — it is about accountability, human rights, and systemic safety in custodial environments.”

Picture Credit: BG Voice

Nenko Stanev Gantchev was not a headline name. He was one of the people who wake up early, start the engine, and drive so others can have food, materials, and goods. For nearly 30 years, he lived that life — between highways, warehouses, and the city he chose as home: Chicago.

On December 15, 2025, at the age of 56, Nenko Gantchev died alone, locked inside a cell at a private ICE detention facility in Michigan. His immigration case had not yet been resolved. There was no final decision. There was only an ending.

His death has become a painful symbol — not only of questions surrounding medical care in immigration detention, but of the vulnerability of thousands of immigrant professionals in the transportation sector who quietly sustain regional supply chains across the United States.

America as Promise and Hope

Nenko Gantchev arrived in the United States in June 1995 on a J-1 student exchange visa. He stayed. He worked. He became part of the city’s daily life. Over time, he obtained work authorization, paid taxes, purchased property, and built a stable life in Chicago.

In May 2005, he was granted lawful permanent resident status — a green card.

Life on the Road and a Small Business Built from Scratch

In 2008, Gantchev started his own trucking company, J & D Boys Inc. For more than a decade, he operated as a small but resilient carrier, facing the same challenges familiar to every owner-operator: regulation, insurance costs, market pressure, and long days with no guarantees.

Those who knew him describe a calm, kind-hearted man, always willing to help.“Everyone knew he was a good person and a hard worker,” a former colleague said.

Past Mistakes and Long Shadows

Like many human stories, his life was not without complications.

Gantchev’s record included non-violent offenses from years earlier: theft-related cases in the 1990s, an arrest for assault in 2000, and a DUI arrest in 2008 in Park Ridge, Illinois.

These cases were resolved. He served the required penalties. He was not considered dangerous, nor was he under continuous supervision. He moved forward with his life.

But immigration law has a long memory.

In 2009, USCIS revoked his green card, citing his criminal history. From that point on, Gantchev remained in the United States without permanent legal status, yet without being detained or deported.

Marriage, Hope, and a Lawful Attempt to Fix His Status

In 2017, Gantchev married a U.S. citizen. Together, they began the process of adjusting his immigration status through marriage — a lawful and recognized pathway.

During 2024–2025, he regularly attended immigration interviews. His family believed the case was nearing resolution.

An Interview That Turned into an Arrest

On September 23, 2025, Gantchev went to a USCIS office in downtown Chicago for a scheduled interview related to his marriage-based green card application.

He appeared voluntarily.

ICE officers were waiting.

Instead of an interview, he was arrested based on a January 2023 removal order issued by an immigration judge.

Detained Far from Home

Following his arrest, Gantchev was transferred to North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, a private prison operated by GEO Group under contract with ICE.

Due to Illinois laws restricting the use of private detention facilities, many detainees are transferred out of state — far from families, attorneys, and community support.

For his business, this meant the sudden loss of its owner and decision-maker. For his family, it meant helplessness — trying to advocate from hundreds of miles away.

On October 20, 2025, nearly a month after his arrest, his trucking company lost its mandatory insurance, effectively shutting down operations.

Diabetes, Stress, and Alarming Signs

Gantchev suffered from Type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition requiring consistent medical management and proper diet.

While detained at North Lake, his family reports that:

• He repeatedly complained that he was not receiving appropriate diabetic meals

• Standard portions were insufficient to maintain stable blood sugar

• Loved ones sent money so he could purchase additional food from the commissary

Friends say prolonged stress visibly worsened his condition. His wife recalls that nightly phone calls were her only way to monitor his health.

Then, one evening, the call never came.

December 15, 2025: Death in Custody

On the evening of December 15, 2025, Gantchev was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell during a routine check.

Facility medical staff initiated CPR. Local emergency responders continued life-saving efforts. He was pronounced dead at approximately 9:54 p.m. local time.

ICE stated that his death was suspected to be from natural causes, pending final autopsy results and internal reviews.

His wife did not learn of his death directly from ICE. She was notified by the Bulgarian Embassy, after first seeing his status listed as “released” in ICE’s online detainee locator.

Legal Whiplash and a Blocked Release

At the time of his death, Gantchev’s case was entangled in broader litigation over ICE enforcement practices in the Chicago area, including alleged violations of the Castañon Nava consent decree.

A federal judge had ordered the release of several detainees on bond — including Gantchev — raising hope that he would return home, receive medical care, and continue his legal case.

That order was blocked by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, leaving him in detention.

Friends say he faced a devastating choice: accept voluntary removal to Bulgaria, leaving behind his wife, business, and property — or remain detained, waiting for another legal opportunity.

He chose to wait.

Why This Matters to the Transportation Industry

Nenko Gantchev was not an abstract immigration case.He was a transportation company owner, an employer, and a long-time contributor to the freight economy.

His story highlights:

• The immigration vulnerability of key transportation personnel

• Medical risks in detention, particularly for conditions common among drivers

• Business disruption when owners are suddenly detained far from home

Systemic Safety and Oversight Challenges

Deaths in immigration detention raise serious questions about medical care, facility conditions, staffing levels, and oversight. Federal rules require timely medical screening and continuous access to emergency care.

Yet for years, advocacy groups and independent reviews have cited overcrowding, delayed treatment, and limited transparency following serious incidents.

Gantchev’s death underscores the tension between enforcement practices and the duty of care owed to detained individuals — especially those with pre-existing health conditions.

Looking Forward: Accountability and Reform

As ICE and federal oversight bodies continue their investigations, Gantchev’s family is calling for full disclosure of medical records, autopsy findings, and internal facility reports.

These demands reflect a broader need for clear, standardized, and transparent procedures when deaths occur in custody — not only for public accountability, but to prevent future tragedies.

His wife has stated publicly that her husband should not be defined solely by past legal issues. To her, he was a community member, a small business owner, and a family man who was trying to resolve his immigration status lawfully.

Whether his death will lead to meaningful review and reform remains a question of significant public and political importance.

An Ending Without Resolution

Nenko Gantchev:

• Entered the U.S. legally

• Worked

• Paid taxes

• Built a business

• Loved this country

• Tried to fix his status

• Showed up for his interview

And died while waiting.

This story does not seek blame. It leaves behind silence — and a question no one can now answer:

How many more lives will remain suspended between “almost resolved” and “too late”?

The editorial staff of SafetyLane extends its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Nenko Gantchev.

In this time of loss, we express our solidarity with their grief and our hope that the truth surrounding his death will be fully clarified, with respect for human life and dignity.