 will no longer report deaths of former detainees that occur within 30 days of their release from federal custody, reversing a policy implemented during the Biden administration.){kind=link}
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will no longer report deaths of former detainees that occur within 30 days of their release from federal custody, reversing a policy implemented during the Biden administration.
The previous policy required ICE to review and disclose all detainee fatalities, including deaths that occurred shortly after individuals were released from detention.
DHS Calls Change “Common Sense”
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the agency should not be responsible for monitoring individuals after they leave ICE custody.
“Under this updated policy, when an individual is no longer in ICE custody then ICE will no longer be responsible for monitoring or reviewing deaths that may occur,” the spokesperson said, describing the move as a “common sense” change.
The administration emphasized that ICE will continue reporting deaths that occur while individuals remain in federal detention.
Decision Comes Amid Scrutiny
The policy change arrives as lawmakers and immigrant advocacy groups continue raising concerns about conditions inside immigration detention facilities and a growing number of detainee deaths.
According to lawmakers, 49 people have died while in ICE custody since the start of President Donald Trump’s second administration.
An analysis of ICE data found that the first 14 months of the current administration have been among the deadliest periods for the federal immigration detention system in recent years, surpassed only by 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to higher death rates.
Ongoing Transparency Debate
Critics argue that tracking deaths shortly after release can provide insight into the medical care and conditions detainees experienced while in custody. Supporters of the policy change contend that ICE’s responsibility ends once individuals are released.
Despite the reporting change, DHS said ICE “remains committed to transparency regarding detainee deaths” that occur while people are under its supervision.
For more on this controversial new ICE policy, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.