ICE Custody Deaths Increase Across U.S., Prompting Scrutiny

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. March. 31, 2026: The number of ICE custody deaths involving immigrants in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention continues to rise in 2026, raising concerns about detention conditions, medical care, and post-release practices.

Recent fatalities across multiple states have intensified scrutiny of the immigration detention system, with advocates and families calling for greater accountability and transparency.

Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano’s widow, Antonia Tovar speaks during a press conference calling investigation into the recent death of a Mexican national at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center at the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles on Monday, March 30, 2026, in Los Angeles, CA. Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano passed away on March 25, 2026 while being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center when security staff discovered him unconscious and unresponsive. (Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

One of the latest cases involves Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano, a Mexican national who died March 25 while in custody at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California. Authorities said he was found unresponsive in his bunk and transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officials noted he had underlying medical conditions, including diabetes and hypertension.

In Florida, 19-year-old Royer Perez-Jimenez died March 16 at the Glades County Detention Center after being found unconscious. Officials said the death is being investigated as a possible suicide, though the cause remains under review.

Another case drawing attention is that of Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, an Afghan immigrant who died March 14 in Texas, just one day after being taken into ICE custody. He had complained of chest pain and breathing difficulties before being hospitalized. His death is also under investigation.

Advocacy groups have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding these deaths, particularly in cases involving individuals with prior medical conditions or those who reported symptoms while in custody.

The recent incidents follow additional deaths earlier in March and February, including immigrants from Haiti, Iran, Mexico, Guatemala, and Cambodia. In total, at least 11 deaths have been reported in the first three months of 2026.

Beyond detention facilities, concerns are also growing about deaths occurring shortly after release. In one case, a Haitian asylum seeker was found dead in Pennsylvania days after being released by ICE. In another, a refugee from Myanmar died after being left outside in New York.

Immigration advocates say these incidents point to systemic issues that extend beyond detention centers.

Key questions remain about whether detainees are receiving adequate medical care, whether facilities are equipped to handle emergencies, and what safeguards are in place for vulnerable individuals after release.

ICE has stated that detainees are held in safe and humane conditions and that all deaths are under investigation. However, the growing number of fatalities is prompting renewed calls for oversight and reform of the U.S. immigration detention system.

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