Immigration Detention on Track for Deadliest Fiscal Year Since 2004

It’s the deadliest year for those in immigration detention in more than two decades.

More people have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since October — 23 — than died in the whole prior fiscal year.

The most recent death was of a 56-year-old Haitian man held at an immigration detention center in Arizona. He died in a hospital after going into septic shock.

The increase in deaths comes as nearly 70,000 people are in ICE detention, the highest number in several years.

Former agency officials and immigration advocates have warned that detaining more people — coupled with reduced oversight — will increase the likelihood of more fatalities.

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Last summer, Congress gave DHS about $70 billion to hire more staff, including deportation and detention officers, and increase its detention space, as part of Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act spending and tax package.

But rapidly scaling up immigration arrests has contributed to overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and issues with food and health care access in detention centers, according to media reports and immigration advocates.

In January, detainees had confirmed cases of measles at the Florence Detention Center in Arizona and at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, which houses families. Another outbreak was reported this month at Camp East Montana, a facility in Texas that has also separately had three deaths.

The department at the time defended the steps it took after the outbreak in Florence and Dilley, including quarantining people and controlling the spread of infection.

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In general, the agency says detainees receive a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arriving at a facility, as well as getting access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care.

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DHS oversight has also been affected by recent government shutdowns. During the 43-day full government shutdown last fall, DHS said its Office of Detention Oversight was shut. Five people died in custody during this time.

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Medical conditions surrounding deaths over the last few months have included heart-related issues and drug withdrawals, while others had unknown causes.

Each preliminary death report from DHS includes a synopsis of the detainees’ immigration and criminal histories, as well as the events leading up to the time of death.

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