WASHINGTON — The death toll in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody has hit a record high this fiscal year, with 29 individuals dying while detained — surpassing the previous all-time record of 28 deaths set back in 2004, according to government data reviewed by advocacy groups and confirmed by ICE.
The milestone comes as the Trump administration has dramatically expanded immigration enforcement, increasing both arrest rates and the number of people held in detention facilities across the country. Critics say the surge in deaths is a predictable consequence of overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and the rapid intake of detainees into a system not built to absorb them.
ICE said in a statement that it takes the death of any individual in its custody seriously and that each death triggers an internal review. The agency did not dispute the figure.
Of the 29 deaths recorded so far this fiscal year, a significant portion involved individuals with documented medical conditions who advocates say were not receiving adequate care. At least several deaths occurred within days of intake, raising questions about screening procedures.
These are human beings, not statistics, said one immigration attorney who has represented detainees at multiple facilities. The system is overwhelmed, and people are dying for it.
Republican supporters of the administration's enforcement push have largely dismissed the criticism, arguing that detention is a temporary measure for individuals who entered the country illegally and that ICE facilities meet legal standards.
The record comes ahead of a congressional oversight hearing scheduled for next month, where ICE officials are expected to face pointed questioning from both parties about conditions in the agency's detention network.