ICE Halts Disclosure of Deaths Among Recently Released Detainees

WHO:

CNN - US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are involved in the policy change.

CNN - David Venturella is the acting director of ICE.

WHAT:

CNN - ICE is ending its policy of reporting deaths of recently released detainees.

CNN - The previous policy required ICE to review and report all fatalities of federal detainees, including those occurring up to 30 days after release.

CNN - Nearly 50 ICE detainees have died since Trump returned to office last year, including at least 18 so far this year.

CNN - More detainees died in custody in 2025 than in any year in at least two decades, with 2026 on track to be even higher.

WHERE:

CNN - The policy change pertains to ICE facilities and federal custody in the United States.

WHEN:

CNN - The policy change was first reported on a Thursday, with the memo sent to agency employees on that same day.

WHY:

CNN - DHS stated that the change is “common sense” and that ICE is “not responsible when an individual passes away weeks after leaving their custody.”

HOW:

CNN - The updated policy eliminates the requirement for ICE to monitor or review deaths that occur after individuals are no longer in custody.

(UPDATED June 5, 2026 17:38 UTC)

ICE is ending its policy of reporting deaths of recently released detainees, a change that has raised concerns given that nearly 50 detainees have died since Trump returned to office last year, including at least 18 this year alone. The previous policy required ICE to review and report all fatalities of federal detainees, including those occurring up to 30 days after release, but the new directive eliminates this requirement, stating that ICE is “not responsible when an individual passes away weeks after leaving their custody.” Acting director of ICE, David Venturella, is overseeing this policy shift, which the Department of Homeland Security has described as “common sense.”