Death rates in U.S. immigration detention are approaching historic highs, with a new study estimating that roughly one detainee dies every six days, raising concerns among physicians about medical care and oversight in federal facilities.
The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that mortality rates in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody have risen sharply since 2023, reaching 88.9 deaths per 100,000 people in fiscal year 2026 to date—nearly seven times higher than the 13.0 rate recorded in 2023.
