Donald Trump’s administration is on track to witness one of the highest mortality rates in immigrant detention in decades, following recent fatalities involving both a Canadian citizen and a Cuban national. A 75-year-old Cuban man passed away while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week, as reported by CBS News. This incident brings the total known deaths in ICE custody to at least 12 since Trump took office, with two of these instances classified as suicides.
Despite the serious nature of these events, ICE has yet to formally announce the latest death, a common practice for the agency which typically communicates such tragedies with significant delay. Critics attribute the soaring death toll to deteriorating conditions within the nation’s immigration detention centers, which are already overstretched due to the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement measures aimed at arresting record numbers of individuals.
Claims have emerged suggesting that the Biden administration had a higher death rate per detainee through the first half of 2024 compared to the current figures for early 2025, according to Darren Eisenhauer, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security. As it stands, a total of 15 fatalities have been reported this fiscal year, encompassing the final months of Biden’s time in office. Notably, during Trump’s presidency, the pace could see the total deaths reach as high as 24 by year-end, reflecting ongoing concerns about the safety and health of detainees.
Currently, more than 56,397 migrants are in detention, which is approximately 140 percent over the intended capacity of the facilities. Paul Chavez, litigation and advocacy director at Americans for Immigrant Justice, conveyed the severity of the situation, stating, “These are the worst conditions I have seen in my 20-year career. Conditions were never great, but this is horrendous.”
Two of the latest confirmed deaths include 49-year-old Canadian Johnny Noviello, who was found unresponsive in a Miami detention center, and 45-year-old Jesus Molina-Veya, who died under suspicious circumstances in Atlanta, prompting investigations into the latter’s cause of death.
The Canadian government is actively seeking clarity on Noviello’s death, with Foreign Minister Anita Anand pressing U.S. officials for more details. The current administration’s emphasis on immigration and border enforcement highlights a troubling trend, as two-thirds of federal law enforcement funding already goes to these areas. Proposals for future budget allocations may further exacerbate these issues, suggesting an additional $168 billion in immigration law enforcement spending over the next five years.
This ongoing situation raises important questions about the treatment of detainees and the adequacy of the systems in place to safeguard their welfare. There is hope that scrutiny and accountability from various stakeholders, including foreign governments and advocacy groups, may lead to reforms aimed at improving conditions for those in detention.