Death rates at ICE detention facilities raise concerns about health standards: Study
Death rates in immigration detention are nearing record highs, raising concerns among physicians regarding the health service standards at federal facilities, according to a new JAMA research study.
The research, published Thursday, analyzed death rates from fiscal year 2004 through Jan. 19 of this year. Since the study's conclusion, an additional 10 deaths have been reported at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities.
According to the study, mortality rates peaked in 2004 before declining sharply and remaining relatively low until 2020. After a brief post-pandemic dip, rates began to climb again, with significant increases noted in 2025 and 2026.
“Recent increases in mortality occurred alongside major operational changes reported in 2025, including disrupted or terminated oversight mechanisms, rapid detention expansion with reports of overcrowding, and potentially delayed medical care,” the researchers said. "These fluctuations raise questions regarding the consistent implementation of existing standards for health services in these facilities.”
According to the authors, changes within ICE management in the past year have led to inconsistent oversight, rapid expansion of facility intake resulting in overcrowding, and potentially delayed health care delivery.
The Department of Homeland Security released a statement to ABC News, saying, “Consistent with data over the last decade, death rates in custody are 0.009% of the detained population. As bed space has rapidly expanded, we have maintained higher a standard of care than most prisons that hold U.S. citizens—including providing access to proper medical care. For many illegal aliens this is the best healthcare they have received their entire lives."
"All detainees are provided with proper meals, water, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers. In fact, ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens," DHS said.
"It is a longstanding practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody. This includes medical, dental, and mental health services as available, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care," the agency added.
The study found that the death rate dropped from 127.7 per 100,000 person-years in FY 2004 to 13.0 in FY 2023, then climbed to 47.5 in FY 2025 and 88.9 in partial FY 2026.
The current rate is nearly seven times the FY 2023 level, according to researchers.
The researchers called for a more complete investigation into detainee health risks, access to care, and improved tracking of transfer or release from custody.
ABC News previously reported on the surge in ICE detainee deaths. The ABC analysis, which used slightly different methods than the JAMA study, found that the first 14 months of the second Trump administration represent the deadliest period for the federal detention system in recent years -- surpassed only by 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic spiked mortality rates.
As of Thursday, 47 people have died in ICE detention during the second Trump administration. This rise in fatalities coincides with a record-high detention population, which recently surpassed 70,000 people in federal immigration custody.
The spike in deaths has caught the attention of lawmakers, immigrant advocates, and the international community, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemning them and calling for a thorough review of conditions at detention facilities.
