Deaths of Detainees in ICE Custody Surge Under 2nd Trump Administration

Immigrant advocates raise alarms over worsening conditions and lack of medical care in detention facilities.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:20pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a nondescript immigration detention facility, its facade cast in warm, golden light and deep shadows, evoking a sense of melancholy and isolation.As the Trump administration expands immigration detention, a somber scene reflects the growing human toll of its hardline policies.Dilley Today

The first 14 months of the second Trump administration represent the most deadly period for the federal immigration detention system in recent years, with 44 detainee deaths as of March 25, 2026. Experts say the mortality rate has surged to 12 deaths per 100,000 admissions in the first ten weeks of 2026, up from just 1 per 100,000 in 2022, as the administration has dramatically expanded detention capacity.

Why it matters

The rise in detainee deaths comes as the Trump administration has pressured ICE to increase arrests and convert more spaces into detention facilities, doubling down on mandatory detention even for those seeking legal status. Advocates say the government is making a 'choice' to detain people, including families with children, and must be held accountable for the resulting loss of life.

The details

The death of Haitian immigrant Emmanuel Damas, who allegedly complained for two weeks of a toothache before dying of septic shock, highlights concerns about inadequate medical care in detention. ICE claims Damas 'refused' dental treatment, but his family says he was denied access to a dentist. The recent surge also includes several 'presumed suicides,' which experts say are preventable causes of death in custody.

  • On Feb. 16, Damas complained to his brother about a toothache he'd had for two weeks.
  • On Feb. 19, Damas was 'immediately' taken to a hospital after allegedly reporting shortness of breath.
  • On Feb. 22, the hospital reported Damas' likely diagnosis as septic shock due to pneumonia.
  • On March 2, at 1:12 p.m., Damas was pronounced deceased.

The players

Emmanuel Damas

A Haitian immigrant who died in ICE custody after allegedly being denied treatment for a toothache.

Presner Nelson

The brother of Emmanuel Damas, who believes his brother would be alive if he had received adequate medical care.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

An immigration policy expert with the American Immigration Council who analyzed ICE detention death data.

Andrea Flores

An attorney and former DHS and White House official who says the government is making a 'choice' to detain people, including families with children.

Royer Perez-Jimenez

A 19-year-old who died in ICE custody in a 'presumed suicide' in March 2026.

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What they’re saying

“There is really no contest — fiscal year 2026 is on track to be the deadliest year ever in the history of ICE.”

— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Immigration policy expert

“Nobody should lose their life because they went through our immigration system — but that, in and of itself, has been a problem across administrations. And so there's been work that's needed to be done on this.”

— Andrea Flores, Attorney and former DHS/White House official

“They waited for too long to take him to the hospital to be seen by a dentist. So on the nineteenth, when they finally realized, it was too late because he had that infection going on for two weeks. He asked for help for two weeks — they said that he was faking it.”

— Presner Nelson, Brother of Emmanuel Damas

What’s next

The judge in the case of Royer Perez-Jimenez's death will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the deportation of witnesses who alleged guards choked and asphyxiated the 19-year-old.

The takeaway

This surge in detainee deaths under the second Trump administration raises urgent questions about the government's responsibility to provide adequate medical care and humane conditions in immigration detention facilities, especially as the administration has dramatically expanded the detention system.