ICE detention centers have recorded a disturbing rise in migrant deaths, as overcrowded conditions and inadequate care coincide with unprecedented expansion under the Trump administration.
At a Glance
- At least 13 detainees have died in ICE custody during FY 2025 — surpassing the total for all of 2024.
- Florida accounts for the deadliest toll with 5 fatalities, including a 75‑year‑old Cuban and a 49‑year‑old Canadian.
- Overcrowding exceeds capacity by 140%, with mortality tied to medical neglect and suicide risks.
- A record‑setting $45 billion federal funding bill aims to triple ICE detention capacity.
- Human rights groups warn the surge in deaths underscores systemic failures in the detention system.
Deadly Numbers Exceed 2024 Total
Thirteen migrants have died in ICE custody since October 2024, exceeding the 12 total deaths reported the previous year, according to The Guardian. Florida recorded the highest number of fatalities, including a 75-year-old Cuban man and Canadian permanent resident Johnny Noviello. Both were found unresponsive at facilities plagued by staffing shortages and medical lapses, as detailed by El País.
ICE detention capacity currently stands at approximately 40,000 beds, yet it is holding over 56,000 migrants — an occupancy rate exceeding 140%, which critics say directly correlates with preventable deaths.
Watch a report: Rising Migrant Deaths in ICE Detention
Alarms Over Conditions and Care
Conditions in ICE centers have been described as “the worst in decades” by advocacy groups. A Newsweek investigation linked multiple deaths to delays in medical care, suicide, and chronic facility overcrowding. In one case, ICE agents at a Florida center placed a detainee in solitary despite medical alerts indicating suicide risk.
According to Wired, 911 logs from detention centers reveal a torrent of medical crises: seizures, overdoses, cardiac arrests, and pregnancy emergencies. At Miami’s Krome Detention Center — originally built for 600 — over 1,700 detainees have been housed in recent months. AP News reports complaints of overcrowding, mold, and malnutrition are escalating weekly.
Expansion Amid Crisis
Despite this crisis, Congress approved a $45 billion spending bill to triple ICE capacity. The plan includes new tent cities, expanded use of private contractors, and the hiring of 10,000 additional ICE agents. While the administration claims the funding will “modernize enforcement,” critics warn that systemic care deficiencies are being ignored.
As the death toll climbs, immigration lawyers and human rights monitors are demanding oversight reforms. They argue the current model is unsustainable and potentially lethal — especially as detention numbers rise. The contradiction between surging enforcement budgets and deteriorating conditions raises urgent questions about the government’s ability to protect those in its custody.
