The United Nations on Friday demanded independent investigations into dozens of deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since last year, urging swift action to prevent further loss of life. At least 52 deaths have been reported in ICE holding facilities since the start of 2025, when President Donald Trump returned to office and launched a crackdown on immigrants, the UN human rights office said.
Rising Death Toll in ICE Detention
During the first five months of 2026, 18 people died in ICE detention, with another death reported in June, the office said. In 2025, 33 deaths were registered, compared to just 11 in 2024. UN rights chief Volker Turk called for “prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigations into all deaths in ICE custody” and “prompt action to prevent further loss of life.”
Turk emphasized that the lack of transparency surrounding the circumstances of the deaths undermines accountability. “Those responsible for violations of the law must be held to account, and the rights of the victims’ families to truth, justice and reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence must be upheld,” he said in a statement.
Context of Trump's Immigration Crackdown
Trump has made combating illegal immigration a top priority of his second term, with authorities rounding up thousands of people and expanding detention centers. A joint report by Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights released Thursday stated that the rate of people dying in ICE custody has reached its highest level in over a decade amid the crackdown.
Turk noted that the deaths occurred in the context of a broad expansion of the US immigration detention system. ICE currently holds more than 60,000 individuals, compared to approximately 40,000 in early 2025, according to official data cited by Turk’s office. There are plans to increase capacity to up to 90,000 people by the end of 2026.
Concerns Over Detention Conditions
Turk’s office said detainees include entire families with children, and there are frequent reports of inhumane conditions of detention and treatment, as well as concerning allegations regarding the use of force. Five of the officially reported deaths this year were classified as suicides. “All these factors exacerbate vulnerability and raise serious concerns as to whether some of these deaths in ICE custody could have been prevented,” said Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights.
He stressed that immigration detention should be a measure of last resort and that alternatives should be prioritized. “Regardless of their immigration status or that of their parents, children should not be subjected to immigration detention,” he insisted.
UN Condemns Dehumanization of Migrants
Turk strongly denounced the “continued dehumanization and criminalization” of migrants and refugees. He added that nobody should be sent back to a place where they could face serious human rights violations or other irreversible harm. The UN rights office continues to monitor the situation and calls for immediate action to address the rising death toll and improve conditions in ICE facilities.
