The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general announced Thursday that the office is launching two new reviews related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's handling of detained migrants—one examining a recent increase in detainee deaths, and another focused on use-of-force standards at ICE facilities.
The announcements come amid heightened scrutiny of conditions inside immigration detention centers. According to ICE data, there have been 20 deaths in ICE detention so far in 2026. The agency recorded 33 deaths for all of 2025 and 11 deaths in 2024.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers have pressed the administration on what they characterize as a crisis in immigration detention. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., raised concerns about the "historically high death rate" during a House Appropriations Committee hearing Thursday with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
"Those are dangerous accusations that she's making," Mullin responded, arguing that death rates in Illinois state prisons exceed those in ICE detention. The exchange highlighted ongoing partisan divisions over how to assess conditions in immigration facilities.
Immigration advocacy groups have called for greater transparency and accountability. The American Immigration Council and other organizations have long argued that detention standards need reform, citing inadequate medical care and prolonged confinement as systemic problems.
What the Right Is Saying
The Trump administration has defended its handling of immigration enforcement. A DHS spokesperson stated that "there has been NO spike in deaths" and emphasized that ICE facilities comply with performance-based national detention standards.
"All detainees are provided with proper meals, quality water, blankets, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers," the statement said.
Republican supporters of strict immigration enforcement argue that detention remains a necessary tool for processing migrants who enter the country illegally. They contend that facilities meet federal standards and that deaths, while regrettable, occur at lower rates than in comparable correctional settings.
What the Numbers Show
The DHS inspector general's announcement noted that ICE detainee deaths have increased every fiscal year since 2022. The review examining systemic factors will cover the period from October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2026.
ICE recently changed its policy for reporting detainee deaths. Previously, the agency reported any death occurring at a detention center or within 30 days of a detainee's release. Under the new policy, ICE reports only deaths that occur while the individual is in physical custody. According to ICE data, at least 11 detainees have died at hospitals this year after being released from custody.
One death under investigation involves a detainee at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, whose death was ruled a homicide and is being examined by the FBI. The most recent reported death is Felix Alcorta-Rodriguez, 63, of Mexico, who died at the Webb County Detention Center in Laredo, Texas.
A prior inspector general report documented use-of-force violations at a Louisiana detention center, including a prohibited chokehold and an incident where a guard used a pen to stab a detainee.
The Bottom Line
The dual reviews represent an unusual level of internal scrutiny into ICE operations. What happens next will depend on whether the inspector general's findings support changes to detention practices or medical care standards. Congress is likely to use any report findings in future budget and oversight hearings. Families of detainees, advocacy groups, and immigration attorneys say they will be watching closely for details about conditions inside facilities and the circumstances surrounding individual deaths.
The DHS statement emphasized commitment to transparency around detainee deaths, noting that "this updated policy outlines procedures for timely notification, review and reporting of deaths occurring in ICE custody."