Deaths in ICE Custody Surge in 2026, Averaging 1 Every Week |
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As the Trump administration continues to rapidly expand its immigration jail system across the United States, we look at the rising death toll of people in ICE custody, the highest in over two decades. The causes of the deaths have varied, but they include at least one homicide. At least 17 people have died in ICE custody since January.
“I have never seen anything like this, where I’m seeing ICE reporting out at least one death per week,” says Setareh Ghandehari, advocacy director at Detention Watch Network. “People are reaching the point of emergency for issues that could easily be dealt with if proper medical care was given.”
Ghandehari notes the rising opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s conversion of “former industrial warehouses” into ICE jails. “It’s been really inspiring to see people across the country standing up in solidarity with their immigrant neighbors and saying, ‘We don’t want these types of facilities in our communities,’” says Ghandehari.
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: As the Trump administration continues to rapidly expand its immigration jail system across the country, we look now at the rising death toll of people in ICE custody, which has reached a record high in over two decades. At least 17 immigrants are reported to have died in ICE custody since January — that’s on average about an immigrant death a week.
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The most recent death is of 27-year-old Aled Damien Carbonell-Betancourt, an immigrant from Cuba who was jailed in Miami. He reportedly died of a presumed suicide, but the cause is still under investigation.
At least 48 immigrants have died in custody since President Trump returned to office. The cause of death has varied, but includes at least one homicide. In January, El Paso County’s medical examiner found that 55-year-old Geraldo Lunas Campos died from asphyxia due to neck and chest compression. Lunas Campos was pronounced dead January 3rd at Camp East Montana, a sprawling immigration detention tent camp at the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso. ICE claimed the Cuban father had died after experiencing medical distress, but several immigrants that he was jailed with later testified they heard Lunas Campos pleading for medication shortly before guards tackled him to the ground. One of the witnesses said in a sworn court declaration he heard a guard tell Lunas Campos, “Shut up, or we’re going to make you faint.” He added, quote, “The last thing I heard was Geraldo speak in a voice that sounded like he couldn’t breathe. He said, ‘Let go of me. You’re asphyxiating me,’” unquote. The Associated Press also reported a witness saw Lunas Campos handcuffed as at least five guards held him down, while one put an arm around his neck and squeezed until he was unconscious.
Meanwhile, a San Francisco Chronicle investigation found over a dozen deaths under the Trump administration could have been prevented with proper medical care. The Chronicle examined several cases, including Maksym Chernyak — he had a seizure, but they waited to call 911; Luis Beltrán Yanez-Cruz — he complained of chest pain but wasn’t seen by a doctor for weeks; Santos Banegas Reyes — he was in withdrawal but not sent to the ER; Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas — he couldn’t breathe, but they told him to wait; and Ismael Ayala-Uribe — he was in severe pain, but they sent him back to his cell.
For more, we go to Washington, D.C., where we’re joined by Setareh Ghandehari, advocacy director at Detention Watch Network.
Can you explain this surge in deaths, Setareh? I’m talking about deaths of immigrants in ICE custody. Explain what you have found.
SETAREH GHANDEHARI: Good morning, Amy, and thanks for having me.
As you said in your intro, we’ve already seen 17 people die in ICE custody this year, which is an average of about one death per week. And I can tell you, I’ve been tracking these numbers for several years now, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was another point where we hit a record number of deaths, and I have never seen anything like this, where I’m seeing ICE reporting out at least one........