ICE detainee deaths reach a 20-year peak, with four fatalities already in early 2026 following a record 30 deaths in custody during 2025.
NEW YORK: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention has become increasingly deadly for migrants in custody. At least four people have died while detained by ICE in the first 10 days of 2026 alone.
The men, aged 42 to 68, were nationals of Honduras, Cuba, and Cambodia. Two deaths were attributed to heart-related issues, with other causes not clearly indicated.
This follows 2025, which was the deadliest year for ICE detainees in two decades. At least 30 people died in immigration detention centers last year, the highest toll since 2004.
The 2025 figure exceeds the total deaths recorded during the entire prior Biden administration from 2021 to 2025. Only 26 people died in ICE custody across those four years, according to data from the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
External observers consistently highlight inadequate medical care in detention. A 2024 American Civil Liberties Union report concluded up to 95% of ICE detention deaths could have been prevented with appropriate care.
The report analyzed deaths between 2017 and 2021, finding widespread evidence of incorrect treatment and severely delayed medical care. ICE did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
