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Record 48 Deaths in ICE Custody Amid High Detainee Count

4/19/2026

31 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Deaths in ICE custody rose to a record level during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, with 48 fatalities since January 2025.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons testified at a congressional hearing that the surge stems from higher detainee numbers.
Detainee counts have fallen 11% since February but remain above 60,000, drawing criticism from U.S. lawmakers and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, abolished national origin quotas that had favored Northern and Western Europeans since the 1920s. This landmark legislation led to a significant increase in immigration from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, reshaping the U.S. demographic landscape and contributing to ongoing immigration enforcement challenges, including high detainee numbers today.

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Story summary

Deaths in ICE custody rose to a record level during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, with 48 fatalities since January 2025.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons testified at a congressional hearing that the surge stems from higher detainee numbers.
Detainee counts have fallen 11% since February but remain above 60,000, drawing criticism from U.S. lawmakers and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum.

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