ICE Ends Reporting of Detainee Deaths After Release

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has rescinded a 2021 policy that required the agency to report and review the deaths of detainees who passed away within 30 days of their release from federal custody. Acting Director David Venturella announced the immediate change in a June 4, 2026, memo, framing the move as a return to standard reporting practices.

The original protocol was established under the Biden administration to prevent the agency from avoiding accountability by releasing critically ill detainees shortly before their deaths. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defended the reversal as common sense, asserting that ICE is not responsible for monitoring individuals once they have left custody.

This policy shift occurs as detainee fatalities rise. ICE reported 18 deaths in the first five months of 2026, following a record 32 deaths in 2025. Nearly 50 deaths have been reported since Donald Trump returned to office, marking one of the deadliest periods for federal detention in recent years.

Lawmakers and advocacy groups, including the ACLU and Physicians for Human Rights, argue the change increases opacity and masks medical neglect. The controversy coincides with reports of hunger strikes and poor conditions at the Delaney Hall and Adelanto detention facilities. During a House Committee hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin dismissed congressional questioning regarding deteriorating food quality at these centers.