ICE detainee suicides rise sharply under Trump immigration crackdown

An Associated Press investigation found that at least ten men have died by suicide in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since President Trump took office in January 2025, a rate far above the historical average of zero to one death per year. The suicides represent roughly one‑fifth of the 51 deaths recorded in ICE custody during that period. Experts say the spike is not explained by the 50 % increase in the detainee population, which grew from about 40,000 to 60,000 daily, but by failures in screening, delayed mental‑health treatment, and inadequate monitoring. Cases occurred across ICE’s network, including facilities run by private contractors GEO Group and CoreCivic, county jails, and a federal prison. The investigation highlighted the April 2025 death of Brayan Rayo Garzon, a 27‑year‑old Colombian detainee who waited more than 35 hours for an initial health screening and did not receive timely mental‑health care. DHS officials maintain that suicides remain “extremely rare,” but the report documents repeated violations of ICE’s detention standards, such as missed monitoring of at‑risk individuals and the presence of self‑harm materials in cells.