9 Migrants Have Died In ICE Detention Centers This Year Amid Rising Human Rights Concerns

Nine migrants have died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) so far this year.

The number of deaths since U.S. President Donald Trump took office is just three less than the figure for the whole of 2024, which was 12.

Todd Lyons, ICE’s acting director, confirmed the number to the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Homeland Security on Wednesday.

“We do conduct a thorough investigation on all of those,” he said. “ICE, as I’ve said, is dedicated to transparency.”

ICE is required to list the number of deaths in custody on its website, which currently has an incorrect number of seven deaths for 2025.

The last reported death on the website was of Colombian national Brayan Garzón-Rayo on April 8.

Garzón-Rayo died after being found unresponsive at Phelps County Jail in Rolla, Missouri, according to ICE.

Lyons said the website would be updated with the correct number of deceased migrants.

The highest number of deaths in ICE custody since 2018 was in 2020, when 21 people died, the website shows.

Aside from 2020, there have been on average five deaths per year in ICE custody since 2018.

Democratic Representative Veronica Escobar said the treatment in detention centers, coupled with overcrowding, was “tantamount to human rights abuses,” USA Today reported.

“What we’ve seen under the Trump administration should send chills down the spine of every American,” she said.

Democrats also questioned Lyons over funding and the number of people being detained by ICE.

In March, Congress promised at least $430 million more to ICE for immigration detention beds, transportation, and deportation costs.

There was also an additional $136 million allocated to the Department of Justice to support anticipated increases in detention.

The money has funded 41,500 detention beds, but ICE is currently holding over 52,000 individuals, well beyond that limit, according to Rep. Lauren Underwood.

“You’re maybe one or two months away from running out of funds to support this current level of operations,” Underwood said.

Lyons replied: “ICE will not run out of money because we are fiscally responsible to ensure we meet what the Appropriations Committee has outlined for us and what Congress has given us.”

The deaths come amid a massive immigration crackdown launched by the Trump administration.

Since Trump took office, there have been 139,000 deportations, according to the White House.

That figure includes alleged gang members who have been sent to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador, under a deal between Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele.

Family members of those deported have spoken to various media outlets, claiming their loved ones were wrongfully detained.

The crackdown has also sparked fears among those being held in immigration centers.

In early May, drone footage showed migrant detainees at Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson banding together to spell out ‘SOS’ with their bodies.

The clip was captured by Reuters and was reportedly filmed 10 days after they were told they would be deported to CECOT in El Salvador.

A federal court in southern Texas blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport anyone in the court’s judicial district.

As a result, migrants from Bluebonnet who were on their way to a nearby airport for deportation were returned to the facility.