US ICE record deaths prompt calls for investigation and reform

Since 2025, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has recorded 33 deaths in its custody, the highest number since its founding in 2003. Federal data show at least 17 of those deaths resulted from delayed or omitted medical care.

In Houston, ICE officers shot and killed Mexican immigrant Lorenzo Salgado Araujo after he allegedly tried to use his vehicle against an officer. The incident has intensified demands from civil‑rights groups and Democratic lawmakers for an independent probe. Representative Jasmine Crockett said, “We need independent, transparent investigations now,” while Rep. Sylvia Garcia called for “real reforms,” including body cameras, clear identification and the end of paramilitary‑style street checks.

The deaths follow the 2026 shooting of 37‑year‑old Renee Good in Minneapolis, which sparked similar criticism of ICE practices. Despite the mounting fatalities, international attention remains limited as the United States focuses on the World Cup and the Iran conflict.