At least 4 migrants have died in US immigration custody since start of 2026
Reported deaths occurred in the first 10 days of the year; two of them attributed to ‘heart-related issues’
Four migrants died while in custody of US immigration authorities over the first 10 days of 2026, according to government press releases, a loss of life that followed record detention deaths last year under US President Donald Trump.
The deaths included two migrants from Honduras, one from Cuba and another from Cambodia, and occurred from January 3-9, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Trump administration was aiming to ramp up deportations and has increased the number of migrants in detention.
As of January 7, ICE statistics showed that the agency was detaining 69,000 people. The numbers were expected to rise following a massive ICE funding infusion passed by the US Congress last year.
At least 30 people died in ICE custody in 2025, the highest level in two decades, agency figures showed.