US ICE detention deaths reach 16 since January

Deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody have reached at least 16 since January amid record detention levels and mounting concerns over facility conditions.

Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a 39-year-old Mexican national and former “Dreamer”, died on Sunday at an ICE facility in Adelanto, California, the agency confirmed. The death marked the 15th officially reported by ICE since Donald Trump returned to office in January.

A separate incident on Wednesday saw one detainee killed and two wounded by a gunman at an ICE facility in Dallas, bringing the total to 16.

ICE was holding 58,766 people in detention as of 7 September, according to Syracuse University’s TRAC Immigration Research Project.

The figure exceeded 60,000 in August, establishing a record. On 26 January, roughly one week after Trump assumed office, ICE held 39,238 people in detention.

Death rates increase under current administration

Migration data scientist Adam Sawyer of Relevant Research said 15 detention deaths occurred in approximately eight months of the current administration, representing 1.88 deaths per month compared with 0.54 deaths per month during the Biden presidency.

“A total of 26 people passed away during the 48 months of the Biden administration,” Sawyer said. “About half of the detainee deaths took place last fiscal year 2024, so detainee death rates were ramping up before Trump took office in 2025”.

Georgia Democratic senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff demanded information from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE director Todd Lyons regarding the rising death toll.

“We write with serious alarm regarding the rise in the number of deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody nationwide,” the senators wrote.

Agency maintains safety standards

ICE said it remains committed to ensuring safe, secure and humane environments for all detainees.

“Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay,” ICE stated.

Setareh Ghandehari, advocacy director of the Detention Watch Network, disputed the agency’s position.

“ICE detention is inherently inhumane, and we’ve documented horrendous conditions for decades,” Ghandehari said. “What we are seeing now is an exacerbation of these conditions that is resulting in more deaths”.

(information from The Guardian)