Concerns are escalating over the welfare of immigrants in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, as the number of reported deaths has reached 13 in the current fiscal year, which began in October. This alarming trend includes at least 10 deaths since January 1st, 2025, as highlighted by Pop Crave, stating, "Concerns grow for detained immigrants as at least 10 have died in ICE custody since January 1st." The situation has drawn particular attention to facilities like the Krome Detention Center in Miami, where detainees in June formed a human "S.O.S." sign in the yard, signaling distress.
The 13 deaths in fiscal year 2025 already match or exceed the total for fiscal year 2024, which saw 12 deaths, and significantly surpass the 3-4 deaths reported in fiscal years 2022 and 2023. This increase occurs as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement, leading to a swelling detained population that exceeded capacity by over 15,000 in June. The current pace could see the total for 2025 double previous years' numbers, according to The Guardian.
Advocates and legal experts attribute the rising fatalities to deteriorating conditions, including severe overcrowding and systemic medical neglect within detention facilities. Cases such as 75-year-old Cuban immigrant Isidro Pérez, who died at Krome North in June, and Johnny Noviello, 49, found unresponsive in Miami, underscore concerns about the provision of adequate care. Some deaths, like that of Jesus Molina-Veya, 45, in Georgia, are being investigated as apparent suicides.
The desperate "S.O.S." signal from Krome detainees, as reported by Pop Crave, reflects widespread allegations of inadequate living conditions, including lack of showers and unprovided medications for chronic health problems. Paul Chavez, litigation and advocacy director at Americans for Immigrant Justice, described the current conditions as "horrendous," the worst he has seen in his 20-year career.
Human rights organizations, including the ACLU and Physicians for Human Rights, have published reports like "Deadly Failures," asserting that many deaths in ICE custody could have been prevented with proper medical attention. While ICE maintains its commitment to ensuring "safe, secure, and humane environments" and providing comprehensive medical care, advocates continue to demand greater transparency, accountability, and alternatives to detention.