Fourteen deaths reported in ICE custody so far this year

A total of 14 people have died so far this year while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including a Mexican national who was found unresponsive last week at a detention facility outside Los Angeles, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security, cited by US media.

As of mid-February, more than 68,000 immigrants were being held in ICE detention, one of the highest levels on record, based on federal data. The number fluctuates as individuals are deported and others are taken into custody.

In comparison, ICE reported 33 in-custody deaths in 2025 and 11 in 2024.

The expansion of detention capacity under the administration of Donald Trump, as part of a broader mass deportation campaign, has placed increasing strain on holding facilities. Reports indicate that some centres have faced challenges related to overcrowding and the spread of disease.

At Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas, Homeland Security recently replaced contractors at its largest immigrant detention site just seven months after it began operations. The tent-based facility, known as Camp East Montana, has experienced multiple incidents, including a fatal construction accident and three detainee deaths within less than six weeks, one of which was ruled a homicide. The site has also recorded outbreaks of tuberculosis and measles.

The administration has said it is adjusting its deportation strategy to prioritise the arrest and removal of immigrants with criminal records. This shift follows the shooting deaths of two US citizens by federal immigration officers during deportation operations in Minnesota.

On March 25, Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano was found unresponsive in his bunk while in federal custody in California. He had been detained after convictions for possession of a controlled substance and theft.

According to ICE, staff performed CPR and other emergency procedures before he was transported to Victor Valley Global Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Ramos-Solano had been arrested by ICE on February 23 and transferred to the Adelanto detention center. During intake screening, he underwent a medical evaluation and was diagnosed with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. ICE stated that he received routine medical care while in custody, including daily medication for these conditions.

His cause of death has not yet been made public, and Homeland Security officials did not respond to questions regarding the circumstances.

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said during a press conference on Monday that the government would take stronger measures in response to the reported death, particularly focusing on the Los Angeles region.

“There are several actions we are going to take to protest the death of another Mexican, one of our fellow citizens, in the United States,” she said.

By Tamilla Hasanova