A new Associated Press investigation has found that people held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody are dying by suicide at a pace unprecedented in the agency’s two-decade history – and that repeated failures in care and oversight may be a major reason why.
What the Investigation Found
According to the AP, at least 10 detainees, all men, have died by suicide since January 2025. Seven of those deaths have happened since October alone – already the most in a single fiscal year. The deaths account for nearly a fifth of the 51 people who have died in ICE custody over that period.
The pace far outstrips the growth in the detainee population, which is what experts told the AP makes the trend so alarming.
Who the Men Were
The investigation also examined who died. Nine were Hispanic men who had come to the United States from four different countries, and one was a Chinese citizen. Their average age was 32. While the administration has described those facing deportation as the “worst of the worst,” the AP reported that seven of the 10 had no record of violent crime in the U.S.
Failures in Care and Oversight
The most serious findings concerned conditions inside the facilities. The AP reported that staff ignored signs of distress, delayed mental health treatment, and failed to monitor detainees who had already been flagged as at risk – falling short of ICE’s own written standards.
The deaths were not isolated to one location. They occurred across ICE’s detention network, including facilities long run by private contractors and county jails that only recently became ICE partners as the system rapidly expanded.
What Comes Next
The findings are likely to intensify scrutiny of how the fast-growing detention system cares for the people held inside it, and to fuel calls from oversight groups and lawmakers for stronger monitoring and accountability. ICE has faced repeated questions about conditions in its facilities, and this investigation adds detailed new data to that debate.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
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