Seven people have died in ICE custody during Trump's immigration crackdown

At least seven people have died in custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since the beginning of Donald Trump's second term.

The confirmation of these sad statistics occurs amidst a harsh policy of detentions and mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. The official data indicates that since January, ICE has arrested more than 66,000 individuals without legal status and has deported over 65,000.

During the same period, seven deaths of individuals in their custody have been confirmed, in detention centers located throughout the United States. Although authorities claim that these deaths represent less than 1% of those detained, the cases have raised concerns about the conditions of confinement.

Among the victims is Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian woman who died at the Broward Transition Center in Florida. Democratic legislators who visited the facility denounced the lack of medical care and inadequate conditions for the more than 500 detainees.

ICE has denied these accusations and claims that it provides medical care 24 hours a day. However, other citizens have died under rare circumstances.

Nhon Ngoc Nguyen, a 55-year-old Vietnamese man, died in El Paso, Texas, after being moved multiple times between the detention center and hospitals. His attorney noted that ICE was slow to notify the family and believes that the death could have been prevented.

Genry Ruiz Guillén, Honduran, passed away in Miami after weeks of severe symptoms that included seizures and confusion. The ICE reported that he was diagnosed with neurological and muscular disorders.

Maksym Chernyak, a 44-year-old Ukrainian, suffered a stroke while being detained at the Krome center in Miami. His wife reported that before his death, he complained of cold and overcrowding.

Brayan Rayo-Garzón, Colombian, was found dead in a prison in Missouri. His mother believes he was pressured into taking his own life.

Juan Alexis Tineo-Martínez, Dominican, died in Puerto Rico after reporting pain in a leg. And the Ethiopian Serawit Gezahegn Dejene passed away due to respiratory complications and a tuberculosis diagnosis in Arizona.

Civil organizations and lawmakers demand accountability and urgent improvements in detention centers. So far, ICE has avoided directly addressing several of the allegations.

Investigations warn about terrible conditions in detention centers

Last week, an investigation by the Miami Herald revealed serious deficiencies in medical care and conditions within the immigrant detention centers managed by ICE in Florida, particularly at the Krome North facility in Miami.

According to the report, the centers are so overcrowded that detainees must sleep standing up, and timely access to emergency medical care is limited or non-existent.

Experts consulted after analyzing more than a hundred medical documents, autopsies, and forensic reports concluded that several recent deaths could have been prevented.

Additionally, they criticize that some official causes of death are inconsistent, pointing out errors in diagnoses and treatments, as well as excessive medicalization without proper oversight.

Despite the statements from ICE defending their protocols and standards of care, media findings suggest medical negligence, a lack of trained personnel, and conditions that jeopardize the lives of migrants in federal custody.

Frequently Asked Questions about Deaths in ICE Custody and Conditions in Detention Centers