A new report from the organizations Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) raised alarms about conditions in immigration detention centers in the United States by documenting a significant increase in deaths in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during President Donald Trump's second term.

According to the report, at least 52 people have died in ICE custody since January 2025, a figure that represents the highest mortality rate recorded in almost two decades and that even exceeds the levels observed during the most critical moments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The researchers concluded that the increase in deaths cannot be attributed solely to the increase in the detained population. Although the number of detained immigrants grew from about 40,000 to more than 71,000 people in one year, a 77% increase, the mortality rate rose by 140%, according to the analysis.

Brian Root, senior technology and human rights adviser at HRW and one of the study's authors, said the trend reflects deeper problems within the immigration detention system. The report, titled “Dying in Detention: Rising Deaths in an Expanding U.S. Immigration Detention System,” reviewed records of deaths that occurred between 2015 and June 2026, in addition to conducting specialized medical analysis of cases recorded during the first year of the current administration.

They point out deficiencies in medical care

One of the most worrying findings of the study points to possible failures in the medical care provided to detainees. Doctors from Physicians for Human Rights analyzed 39 of the deaths that occurred during the first year of the current presidential term and found signs of late or insufficient care in several cases.

Among them, Maksym Chernyak, a 44-year-old Ukrainian citizen who suffered a stroke while in immigration custody, stands out. According to the report, detention center staff did not react appropriately to obvious signs of a medical emergency, and the delay in transferring him to a specialized hospital may have contributed to his death.

Another case cited is that of Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas, a 32-year-old Mexican citizen who died after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and spending 12 days in isolation. His relatives continue to request detailed information about the circumstances of his death.

The organizations also expressed concern about the increase in apparent suicides within immigration facilities. Between January 2025 and January 2026, seven cases were recorded, compared to one reported throughout 2024.

They question transparency and supervision

The report also criticizes ICE's lack of transparency regarding deaths that have occurred in its custody. According to HRW and PHR, the agency often provides limited information and, in some cases, delays the release of data even though federal rules require publicly reporting a death within 48 hours and providing more detailed information within 30 days.

Katherine Peeler, a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and co-author of the study, said restrictions on access to records make it difficult for Congress, families and the public to exercise effective oversight over the agency.

The organizations maintain that the documented cases raise questions about the United States' compliance with international human rights obligations, particularly those related to the protection of life and timely access to medical care for people in state custody.

The report attributes the deteriorating situation to both long-standing structural problems within the immigration detention system and recent policies that have expanded the use of mandatory detention and significantly increased the detained population. It also urges Congress and the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen oversight mechanisms, improve medical care, and ensure greater accountability for every death that occurs in federal custody.