U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has completed an internal review of records related
to individuals who have died in its custody and identified additional deaths that were not
previously included on its official list. This review found 10 previously unlisted deaths
that occurred between fiscal years 2004 and 2007.
What the Agency Says
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) manages civil immigration detention in the United
States. The agency states that detention is non-punitive, and its dual purpose is to protect
communities from individuals who may pose a safety risk and to ensure that detainees comply with
immigration proceedings.
In its release, ICE also referenced updates to its detention operations and protocols that reflect
the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, including guidance that could increase the number
of accessible detention beds under current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.
Background: Detainee Deaths in ICE Custody (General)
Deaths in ICE detention are formally reported to Congress and posted online by the agency, but
advocates and watchdog groups have long argued that these counts understate the true total because
they exclude individuals who die shortly after release or transfer.
Recent years have seen a significant rise in reported deaths:
- The fiscal year 2025 saw the highest number of detainee deaths since 2004, with at least
30 deaths reported across many facilities nationwide. - Some deaths in detention have involved chronic health conditions; others have prompted
scrutiny over medical care and oversight at holding facilities. - Advocates have highlighted patterns of deaths occurring shortly after arrest or during
medical emergencies, raising concerns about access to timely care and facility conditions.
Examples of Detainee Deaths
While the April 2025 ICE notice was retrospective (covering deaths from 2004–2007), more recent
cases include:
- Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a 39-year-old former DACA recipient, died in 2025 after
becoming ill at the Adelanto processing center in California before being transferred to a
hospital. - Multiple detainees died in late 2025 at facilities in Texas, New Jersey,
and Michigan; ICE attributed these deaths to “natural causes” or medical complications,
but advocates raised concerns about chronic overcrowding and care deficiencies.
ICE maintains that it strives to ensure safe, humane conditions and performs inspections and medical
reviews, but civil rights groups, lawmakers, and medical advocates have repeatedly called for more
frequent unannounced inspections, transparent reporting, and independent investigations into
detention deaths.