Seventeen individuals have died in US immigration custody between January and early April 2026, according to data released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The latest fatality occurred on April 12, when a 27-year-old Cuban national was found unresponsive in a Miami detention center. His cause of death remains under investigation.
This year's figures follow a record-high 33 detainee deaths reported in 2025, the highest in over two decades. ICE currently detains over 60,000 immigrants, a decrease from recent peaks but still far above pre-2025 levels under the Trump administration.
Advocacy groups have raised concerns about detention conditions as the US continues to grapple with immigration policy challenges. The rising numbers coincide with increased border enforcement measures implemented since President Donald Trump resumed office.
