Story perspectives

ICE Custody Deaths Hit 22-Year High Under Trump

4/17/2026

Center

Trump Administration's ICE Deaths

Under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, ICE custody deaths reached a 22-year high.
A Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study reported an annual mortality rate of 88.9 per 100,000 detainees in early 2026.
Since January 2025, at least 48 detainees have died.
Conditions in ICE facilities worsened due to overcrowding and inadequate medical care.
Critics, including lawmakers, have raised concerns about ICE transparency and reduced death reports.

Left

Sheinbaum Addresses ICE

Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican President, ordered diplomats to increase scrutiny of U.S. detention centers, replacing weekly with daily consular visits.
Sheinbaum called the centers a human-rights violation after Alejandro Cabrera Clemente died in ICE custody, making him the 15th Mexican to die since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.
Mexico plans an amicus brief in federal litigation against the Adelanto facility and will raise the issue at the United Nations.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished national-origin quotas, significantly altering U.S. immigration patterns and increasing the number of immigrants from Asia and Latin America. By 2026, the annual mortality rate in ICE custody reached 88.9 per 100,000 detainees, prompting criticism from leaders like Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who condemned U.S. detention centers as human rights violations, highlighting ongoing reform needs.

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Trump Administration's ICE Deaths

Under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, ICE custody deaths reached a 22-year high.
A Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study reported an annual mortality rate of 88.9 per 100,000 detainees in early 2026.
Since January 2025, at least 48 detainees have died.
Conditions in ICE facilities worsened due to overcrowding and inadequate medical care.
Critics, including lawmakers, have raised concerns about ICE transparency and reduced death reports.

1 / 3