Breaking News
More Migrants Die in ICE Custody as Detentions Surge Under Trump Administration
At least four migrants have died in ICE detention in the first days of 2026, as overall detentions nearly double. Experts warn inadequate medical care contributes to the deadly conditions.
The practices of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been under scrutiny following the fatal shooting of protester Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 7. However, agency data shows that ICE detention centers themselves remain dangerous environments for migrants.
Press releases from ICE indicate that several individuals have already died in custody in the first days of 2026, following a year in which migrant deaths in detention reached a 20-year high amid a dramatic increase in detentions.
As of the end of December 2025, more than 68,000 adults were in ICE detention, nearly double the roughly 36,000 detained in December 2023, according to agency figures.
Deaths in Early 2026
At least four men have died in ICE custody so far this year, all within the first ten days. Three deaths were reported between January 9-10. The men, aged 42 to 68, included two Hondurans, one Cuban, and one Cambodian.
Two of the deaths were linked to heart-related health issues, while the causes of death for the remaining two were not fully disclosed. Only one of these cases has been listed as “under investigation.”
Record Death Toll in 2025
The previous year, 2025, was the deadliest on record for ICE detainees in two decades, with at least 30 deaths—the highest since 2004, a year after the agency was established.
By comparison, the total number of ICE detainee deaths during the entire Biden administration (2021-2025) was 26, according to data compiled by the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Concerns Over Medical Care
Observers have raised concerns about the medical treatment available to detainees. A 2024 American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) report concluded that up to 95% of deaths in ICE custody could have been prevented with proper medical care.
The report, which examined deaths between 2017 and 2021 using thousands of pages of public records, highlighted widespread instances of delayed or inappropriate medical treatment.
ICE did not respond to AFP’s request for comment by the time of publication.
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