By Cliff Potts, CSO, and Editor-in-Chief of WPS News
Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines — January 18, 2026

Overview

As protests continue in Minnesota over federal immigration enforcement, a broader national issue has moved back into focus: a rising number of deaths involving people held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Recent reporting confirms multiple deaths in ICE custody in early 2026, following a year in which detainee deaths reached their highest level in decades. Civil rights groups, lawyers, and some lawmakers argue that enforcement tactics, detention conditions, and weakened oversight are contributing factors.

What We Know About Deaths in ICE Custody

According to ICE disclosures and independent reporting, at least four people died in ICE custody during the first ten days of January 2026. The agency confirmed the deaths involved individuals from Honduras, Cuba, and Cambodia, each occurring at different detention facilities across the United States.

Reuters and other outlets report that 2025 saw more than 30 deaths in ICE detention facilities, the highest annual total since the early 2000s. The increase coincided with a sharp rise in the detained population as federal immigration enforcement expanded nationwide.

While ICE states that detainees receive medical screenings and access to care, advocacy organizations argue that many deaths were preventable, citing delays in treatment, inadequate medical staffing, and failures to respond to medical emergencies.

Allegations of Force and Medical Neglect

Several recent cases have drawn particular scrutiny. In one January 2026 incident, a middle-aged man died after being restrained by ICE officers during a medical episode. Preliminary findings referenced by the Associated Press indicate that compression of the chest and neck may have contributed to the death, prompting an ongoing investigation into whether the force used was excessive.

Separately, human rights organizations have documented deaths linked to untreated chronic illness, suicide, and complications from COVID-19 and other infections inside detention centers. In many cases, families and attorneys say detainees repeatedly requested medical care before their deaths.

Oversight Declines as Detention Expands

At the same time deaths have increased, federal oversight of detention facilities has declined. Reporting by watchdog groups shows that the number of formal inspections of ICE facilities dropped significantly in 2025, even as detainee numbers rose.

Critics argue this combination—higher detention levels and reduced oversight—creates conditions where misconduct or neglect is less likely to be detected early. ICE disputes that characterization, stating that inspections continue and that deaths are thoroughly reviewed. However, detailed findings from internal reviews are rarely released publicly.

Connection to Current Protests

The issue of deaths in custody is closely tied to the protests now underway in Minnesota and other states. Demonstrators have cited long-standing concerns about ICE use of force, detention practices, and accountability as reasons for opposing expanded enforcement operations.

Last week, a federal judge in Minnesota issued a preliminary injunction limiting ICE tactics during protests, including restrictions on arrests and use of force against peaceful demonstrators. While the ruling does not address detention conditions directly, legal experts say it reflects growing judicial concern about federal enforcement practices more broadly.

What Remains Unclear

Several key questions remain unresolved:

  • How many of the recent deaths in ICE custody will result in criminal or civil accountability.
  • Whether Congress or the courts will impose new standards or reporting requirements on detention facilities.
  • Whether ICE will reduce reliance on detention as enforcement operations expand.

For now, federal authorities maintain that deaths in custody are rare relative to the detained population. Advocates counter that any preventable death under government control represents a systemic failure.

Why This Matters Internationally

From a Philippines-based perspective, the issue is not limited to U.S. domestic politics. Detention, use of force, and state accountability are global concerns, particularly for migrant workers and displaced populations. How the United States handles deaths in immigration custody will shape its credibility when addressing human rights issues abroad.

For more social commentary, please see Occupy 2.5 at https://Occupy25.com
This essay will be archived as part of the ongoing WPS News Monthly Brief Series available through Amazon.

References (APA)

Reuters. (2026, January 12). Four migrants die in U.S. ICE custody in early January.

Associated Press. (2026, January 10). Investigators examine restraint tactics after detainee death in ICE custody.

National Immigrant Justice Center. (2025). Deaths in U.S. immigration detention: A continuing crisis.

Project on Government Oversight. (2025, December). ICE inspections fell as detention population surged.

Reuters. (2026, January 16). U.S. judge limits immigration agents’ conduct toward Minnesota protesters.

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