Deaths in ICE custody hit record highs

Deaths in ICE custody hit record highs

Deaths in U.S. immigration detention have surged to record levels under Donald Trump’s second administration, according to officials, as the government ramps up enforcement and expands the number of people held in custody.

At least 48 people have died in facilities run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since January 2025, based on tracking data, with senior officials confirming dozens of deaths during the current fiscal year alone.

Officials cite overcrowding — lawmakers push back

Acting ICE director Todd Lyons said the spike reflects the sheer scale of detention, with more migrants being held than at any point since the agency was created in 2003.

But lawmakers, led by Lauren Underwood, challenged that explanation, arguing that higher detainee numbers should not automatically lead to more deaths. She warned that the rising toll suggests deeper failures in oversight and care inside detention centres.

Concerns over transparency and reporting delays

Scrutiny has intensified over how ICE reports deaths in custody, with officials accused of scaling back timely disclosures to Congress and the public. Previous policy required notification within two days, but reporting has reportedly slowed, raising concerns about transparency.

The Department of Homeland Security has partly blamed delays on funding disruptions, though Lyons acknowledged there is no legal basis for treating death investigations as “nonessential.”

Study points to systemic failures in care

A recent study published in JAMA found death rates in ICE custody are now at their highest level in more than two decades — even exceeding peaks seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers warned the trend points not to isolated incidents but to systemic weaknesses, particularly in medical treatment, mental health support and internal review processes.

Detention expansion fuels political battle

The surge comes as ICE pushes for a major funding increase, seeking billions from Congress to expand detention capacity and enforcement operations.

With more than 60,000 people currently held in immigration custody, the rising death toll is set to become a central flashpoint in Washington — intensifying an already bitter political fight over immigration policy, spending, and accountability.

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