At Least 11 Immigrants Dead In US Immigration Custody In Two Months
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At least 11 immigrants have died while in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement between January and early March 2026, raising fresh concerns about conditions and medical care inside America’s immigration detention facilities.
The deaths follow a troubling trend after 31 detainees died in ICE custody in 2025, the highest number recorded in nearly 20 years. The development has intensified criticism from immigrant rights groups and some lawmakers who say detainees may not be receiving adequate healthcare while in detention.
Those who died came from several countries including Haiti, Iran, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cuba and Cambodia. Reports indicate the deaths occurred in detention centres and hospitals across the United States, with causes ranging from illness and medical complications to suspected suicide.
One of the most recent cases involved 34-year-old Haitian national Emanuel Cleeford Damas, who died on March 2 at a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. Authorities said he had been transferred from the Florence Detention Center after reporting breathing difficulties and later placed on a ventilator. Officials said the exact cause of his death had not been confirmed.
However, relatives have disputed the official explanation, claiming Damas died from a tooth infection that allegedly went untreated while he was in custody.
Another detainee, Iranian national Pejman Karshenas Najafabadi, 59, died on March 1 after suffering cardiac arrest at a hospital in Mississippi. ICE said he had several chronic health conditions and had been receiving medical care prior to the incident.
A separate case involving Mexican national Alberto Gutierrez Reyes has also drawn criticism. The 48-year-old died on February 27 in California after reportedly complaining of chest pain and breathing difficulties before being taken to hospital.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have defended the detention system, stating that detainees receive comprehensive medical care while in custody. However, the series of deaths has continued to trigger debate over detention policies and oversight within the U.S. immigration enforcement system.
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