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

Mortality rate in federal immigration detention facilities reaches alarming new highs

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:40pm

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A conceptual abstract painting in shades of grey and blue depicting the silhouette of a person in an immigration detention facility, with overlapping fractured geometric shapes and lines representing the constraints and dangers of the system.The alarming rise in deaths of immigrants in federal detention facilities under the current administration underscores the urgent need for reform and oversight of the immigration detention system.Dilley Today

An analysis of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data reveals a stark and rapid acceleration in the mortality rate within federal immigration detention facilities under the second Trump administration. As the detention population reaches record highs, the death toll has surged, with 44 people dying in custody as of March 25, 2026 - a rate of 12 deaths per 100,000 admissions in just the first ten weeks of the year, the highest on record.

Why it matters

The surge in detainee deaths has raised growing concerns from lawmakers and immigrant advocates about the conditions in migrant detention facilities, as the Trump administration has dramatically expanded detention capacity and doubled down on mandatory detention for undocumented immigrants, even those with pending legal status applications.

The details

According to the analysis, the first 14 months of the second Trump administration represent the most deadly period for the federal detention system in recent years, excluding 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to detention deaths. The data shows the mortality rate surging from just 1 death per 100,000 admissions in 2022 to about 7 deaths per 100,000 in 2025, and 12 deaths per 100,000 in the first 10 weeks of 2026. The rise in fatalities comes as the detention population reaches record highs, with over 70,000 people currently detained.

  • As of March 25, 2026, 44 people have died in government custody during the current Trump administration.
  • In just the first 10 weeks of 2026, the mortality rate is currently at 12 deaths per 100,000 admissions.

The players

Emmanuel Damas

A Haitian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. legally and had a pending Temporary Protected Status application. He died after allegedly complaining for roughly two weeks of a toothache that his brother believes could have been treated.

Presner Nelson

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

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

An immigration policy expert with the American Immigration Council who analyzed ICE death data, stating that fiscal year 2026 is on track to be the deadliest year ever in the history of ICE.

Andrea Flores

An attorney and immigration policy expert who is a former DHS and White House official, stating that "Nobody should lose their life because they went through our immigration system."

Royer Perez-Jimenez

A 19-year-old who died on March 16 in Florida, in what DHS labeled a "presumed suicide."

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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, American Immigration Council

“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 immigration policy expert, former DHS and White House official

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This surge in detainee deaths under the second Trump administration highlights the urgent need for reform and oversight of the immigration detention system, as well as a re-examination of the administration's policies that have dramatically expanded detention capacity and mandatory detention, often with tragic consequences.