Immigration

As the Death Toll Rises in Trump's Immigration Crackdown, Support for ICE Shrinks

Deaths in ICE custody hit a 20-year high in 2025 and a majority now say the agency's actions make Americans less safe.

Fiona Harrigan | From the May 2026 issue

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(Photo: An ICE detention facility in Jena, Louisiana; Stephen Smith/Associated Press)

The first year of President Donald Trump's mass deportation effort has been filled with rights violations. Unsurprisingly, that militant approach has had deadly consequences.

Out of public view, deaths in ICE custody hit a 20-year high in 2025. Thirty-two people died from varying causes, including heart failure, stroke, tuberculosis, and suicide. "In some cases, their families and lawyers have alleged, they died of neglect, after repeatedly trying and failing to get medical care," per The Guardian. Four migrants died in ICE custody in just the first 10 days of 2026, according to Reuters.

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