11 Immigrants Die in US ICE Custody Over Three Months

At least eleven immigrants have died in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody from January through early March 2026, marking a concerning start to the year. Last year, ICE reported 31 deaths, the highest in two decades, highlighting ongoing questions about the treatment and safety of detainees.

Among the recent deaths was Emanuel Cleeford Damas, a Haitian man who died on March 2 at a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. Damas had been arrested in Boston in September 2025 on assault and battery charges and transferred to the Florence Detention Center in Arizona. ICE reported that Damas experienced shortness of breath and was hospitalized before being moved to an intensive care unit in Phoenix, where he died. His family claims his death was linked to an untreated tooth infection, although ICE did not confirm this.

Another detainee, Pejman Karshenas Najafabadi, an Iranian man aged 59, died on March 1 at a hospital in Natchez, Mississippi. Karshenas had chronic health conditions and was transferred from the Louisiana ICE Processing Center for long-term care. He suffered a cardiac arrest while hospitalized, according to ICE.

Alberto Gutierrez Reyes, a 48-year-old Mexican national, died on February 27 at Victor Valley Global Medical Center in California. He had been arrested by US Border Patrol agents in January and reported chest pain and faintness before his death. Los Angeles city officials said he had been denied medical care, though ICE maintains that all detainees receive comprehensive medical services.

Other victims include Jairo Garcia Hernandez, a 27-year-old Guatemalan, and Lorth Sim, a 59-year-old Cambodian. Both died on February 16, with ICE reporting that Garcia was already in poor health and Sim was found unresponsive in his cell at the Miami Correctional Facility in Indiana.

In January, several deaths were also reported. Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan, and Heber Sanchaz Dominguez, a 34-year-old Mexican, were found unresponsive in Texas and Georgia detention centers, with the incidents under investigation. Parady La, a 46-year-old Cambodian, died in Philadelphia due to severe drug withdrawal and organ failure. Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, 68, and Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, 42, both Hondurans, died in California and Texas after being hospitalized for health emergencies. Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban, died in Texas at Camp East Montana. Initial reports cited medical distress, though later investigations raised questions about possible foul play.

These deaths have reignited criticism of ICE detention practices and the conditions in which immigrants are held. Advocates say that overcrowding, lack of timely medical care, and inadequate monitoring contribute to preventable deaths. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, says staff provide medical care to all detainees and that investigations are ongoing for each death.

The rising number of deaths in ICE custody has raised broader questions about the US immigration system. Experts warn that systemic reforms are necessary to ensure that detainees, including those awaiting deportation or trial, are treated safely and humanely. Families of deceased detainees continue to call for transparency and accountability, seeking answers about the conditions that may have contributed to the deaths.

In 2026, ICE continues to face scrutiny as policymakers, journalists, and human rights organizations monitor the situation. The agency’s ability to provide safe and effective detention remains under close watch, and these recent fatalities underline the urgent need for review and reform within US immigration detention facilities.