52 Deaths in ICE Custody: UN Demands Investigation

UN and US watchdogs sound the alarm on ICE detention deaths

Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, publicly called for "prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigations" into deaths inside US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers. His statement came after Human Rights Watch released a report this week saying that 52 people have died in ICE custody in the first 500 days of the Trump administration's second term. A separate study by the UCLA Law Behind Bars data project found that death rates have reached their highest levels since 2004.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspector general — the government's internal watchdog — announced two separate investigations on Wednesday. The investigations will look at deaths in ICE custody and the use of force against detainees between October 1, 2021 and March 31 of this year. The watchdog said it launched the probe "because of an increase of detainee deaths in ICE custody each year since fiscal year 2022." The Human Rights Watch report also accused ICE of violating its own policies and international human rights law, and said the lack of transparency makes oversight "nearly impossible."

Türk also raised serious concerns about the use of solitary confinement inside ICE facilities. The UN has previously stated that solitary confinement lasting more than 15 days amounts to torture. He called immigration detention an "exceptional measure of last resort" and said children should never be held in immigration detention. The Trump administration restarted family detention and has locked up thousands of children, including babies, and pregnant women. ICE currently holds about 60,000 people nationwide, and the administration is considering expanding that capacity to 90,000. Most ICE detention centers are run by private prison companies.

The DHS denied there has been a spike in deaths. A spokesperson said: "There has been NO spike in deaths. Consistent with data over the last decade, death rates in custody under the Trump administration are 0.009% of the detained population." The agency did not respond directly to the UN's remarks, the Human Rights Watch report, or the watchdog investigations. When a detainee dies in ICE custody, the agency is legally required to notify the public within 48 hours. Human Rights Watch says ICE has not been meeting that standard of transparency.

What to do if you or a family member is in ICE detention

• Know your right to a lawyer. People in ICE detention have the right to speak with an immigration attorney (a lawyer who handles immigration cases). ICE must allow detainees to contact their legal representative. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask about free legal aid organizations in the area where the detention center is located.
• Request a bond hearing. A bond hearing (also called an immigration bond hearing) is a court proceeding where a judge decides whether a detained person can be released while their case continues. Ask your attorney or the immigration court about requesting one as soon as possible.
• Document everything. If you believe a detainee is being mistreated, denied medical care, or placed in solitary confinement, write down dates, names, and details. This information can be used by lawyers, watchdog organizations, or in court.
• Contact oversight organizations. Groups like Human Rights Watch, the ACLU, and local immigration legal aid organizations are actively monitoring ICE detention conditions. They may be able to help or escalate serious concerns.