Chicago – June 17, 2026
The death rate in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers has more than doubled during President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a Reuters analysis of government data published June 16, 2026.
Fifty people have died in Department of Homeland Security custody since Trump launched his deportation campaign after returning to office in January 2025. Between 2009 and 2024, ICE facilities recorded one fatality per 3,848 detainees annually; that ratio has surged to one death per 1,630 detainees through early June 2026.
The spike coincides with a 70% increase in detentions under Trump’s administration. Cardiovascular problems and heart attacks caused 16 deaths, while officers found 21 of the 50 deceased only after the person had already died.
Three detention-death experts reviewed autopsy reports for Reuters and raised alarms about supervision and care at centers with ballooning populations. DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis claimed the agency provides “comprehensive medical care from the moment individuals arrive” and maintains “safe, secure and humane” conditions.
The previous record was 28 deaths in 2004, shortly after ICE’s creation.
