ICE Ends Reporting of Deaths Among Recently Released Detainees

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it will no longer report deaths of individuals that occur within 30 days after they are released from federal custody. Acting ICE director David Venturella issued an internal memo canceling the reporting rule that was adopted in 2021 under the Biden administration. The Department of Homeland Security called the change “common sense,” saying ICE’s responsibility ends once a person leaves its custody.

The policy shift comes as the number of detainee deaths has risen sharply under the Trump administration. Nearly 50 people have died in ICE custody since President Donald Trump returned to office, with 18 deaths recorded so far this year. 2025 saw the highest annual death toll in two decades, and 2026 is projected to exceed that level. Critics argue that tracking deaths shortly after release is essential for exposing medical neglect and other deficiencies in detention centers, and warn that ending the reporting requirement will reduce transparency and hinder oversight.

The change was first reported by The Washington Post and has been covered by multiple outlets, including CNN and regional media. ICE said it will continue to report deaths that occur while individuals remain in its custody, but will no longer monitor or review fatalities that happen after release.