“People’s lives are at risk”: Possible reasons for the increase in immigrant deaths in ICE custody in 2025
Immigration rights advocates warn that “people’s lives are at risk” inside ICE detention centers. Already, 11 deaths have been reported so far this year.
Donald Trump returned to the presidency with a clear objective: to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. To achieve this, his administration has implemented a series of aggressive immigration policies, including the elimination of protection programs and a sharp increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the country.
In line with this agenda, the first six months of Trump’s second term have seen a significant rise in immigrant arrests, leading to severe overcrowding in ICE detention centers. In some cases, the number of detainees has exceeded facility capacity, contributing to a surge in deaths, with at least 11 people dying in ICE custody so far this year, and reports suggesting the number may now be 12.
“People’s lives are at risk,” said Michelle Brané, former Immigration Detention Ombudsman, in an interview with CNN. She warned that the actual death toll could be even higher due to inadequate oversight and worsening conditions in detention facilities.
Oversight Cuts and Rising Mortality
Experts point to budget cuts at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Secretary Kristi Noem as a key factor behind the spike in deaths. In early 2025, DHS shut down three key oversight offices, reducing staff from hundreds to just a dozen. These closures included the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CISOMB), and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO).
“As the Trump administration doubles down on immigration enforcement and the number of detainees rises rapidly, we should be increasing oversight, not eliminating it,” said Katie Shepherd, a former senior policy advisor at CRCL who was laid off during the cuts.
Shepherd noted that when she was dismissed in May, her office had over 500 open investigations into detention conditions.
Meanwhile, the administration has prioritized building new detention centers rather than improving oversight of existing ones. ICE facilities are now operating at 140% capacity, with over 56,000 migrants in custody. Advocacy groups and legal experts have raised alarms about medical neglect, abuse, and systemic failures within the detention system.
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