2026 Sees Record Death Toll in ICE Detention Centers: What We Know About the Victims.

Death Rates in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facilities During 2026

According to Vox - Загальний: A record number of deaths has been recorded in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in 2026. Among the deceased are 19-year-old Royer Pérez-Jiménez, who died from an apparent suicide, and Mohammad Nazir Pakhtiawal, an Afghan refugee who died following his arrest. So far this year, 13 deaths have been confirmed—a figure that surpasses totals from many prior years.

Royer Pérez-Jiménez, who was in ICE custody, became at least the 13th person to die in an ICE facility in 2026. This case highlights an alarming trend: more deaths have occurred in ICE facilities since the start of this year than in 16 entire previous years. Mohammad Nazir Pakhtiawal died on Saturday after being taken into custody, further underscoring the severity of the situation.

Mortality Trends Inside ICE Facilities

In 2004, ICE facilities recorded 32 deaths; in 2025, that number was 31. Now in 2026, with nearly 70,000 individuals held by ICE, the death rate among detainees is climbing. It is important to note that most of these individuals are currently detained solely for immigration violations. In 2025, ICE held fewer than 40,000 people, yet even at that level, the death count remained high.

These facts raise serious concerns about conditions in ICE detention centers and the broader human rights situation in the context of immigration enforcement.

The rising number of deaths in ICE facilities may point to systemic failures in management and healthcare provision for detained immigrants. This underscores the urgent need for immigration system reforms and improved detention conditions to ensure the protection of human rights for all those in custody. Amid ongoing global migration crises, the health and safety of vulnerable immigrants must remain a priority.