Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will stop reporting deaths of people who have been released from custody, even if the death occurs within 30 days of their release from a detention center.

The measure reverses a policy implemented during the Joe Biden administration, which required the agency to review and report on all deaths related to people who had been in federal custody, including those that occurred after their release.

The change comes at a time of increasing scrutiny over conditions in immigration detention centers and the increase in deaths linked to the federal detention system.

DHS defends the measure

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson explained to ABC News that under the new policy, ICE will no longer be responsible for monitoring or investigating the deaths of people once they have formally left its custody.

"This is common sense. ICE is not responsible when a person dies weeks after leaving their custody," the official said.

Authorities maintain that the agency will continue to report and review deaths that occur while a person is detained, and they assure that the commitment to transparency remains in force.

Debate grows over deaths in detention centers

The modification occurs while legislators, civil organizations and immigrant advocates question the number of deaths registered in immigration custody.

According to data cited by the same media, 49 people have died in ICE custody since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term, a figure that has generated concern among human rights groups.

In addition, an analysis carried out by the American network concluded that the first 14 months of the current administration represent one of the periods with the most deaths within the federal immigration detention system in recent years, only surpassed by 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic strongly impacted detention facilities.

The decision to eliminate post-release reporting could intensify the debate over oversight and accountability within the immigration system, especially as detention and deportation policies continue to take center stage on the national agenda.