US Trump administration stops counting migrant deaths after release from detention

The Department of Homeland Security announced that the United States will no longer count deaths of migrants that occur within thirty days after they are released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The rule, introduced in 2021 under the Biden administration, required ICE to report such deaths to Congress and investigate their causes. Officials said the change reflects that the government is not responsible for individuals no longer in custody, a move criticized by opposition groups and human‑rights advocates who warn it will reduce transparency amid a rise in migrant deaths.

In a separate report, a former Social Security official claimed the Trump administration had discussed a plan to declare 2.7 million living people—mostly immigrants—as dead in order to force them to leave the country and eliminate their access to benefits. The allegation, cited by a newspaper, has not been independently verified but adds to concerns about extreme immigration policies under the administration.